FA Cup: Port Vale v Brighton match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s FA Cup fourth round match at Vale Park

Zander Swinburne
Friday 24 January 2014 12:00 GMT
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Brighton midfielder Andrew Crofts
Brighton midfielder Andrew Crofts

Port Vale take on Brighton this week in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The two sides are on the outside of their respective league’s playoff positions and have experienced identical form over the past few weeks.

Over the last six games, both Port Vale and Brighton have won three, lost two and drawn one. Saturday’s match will be the first time these clubs have met in the FA Cup for 82 years. Port Vale remain the underdogs due to their lower league status, yet they have reason to be confident as they have not lost a game at Vale Park since November. Brighton are still in the hunt for a Premiership place next season and are placed just two points behind the fourth playoff spot. Their route into the fourth round of the FA Cup came in a merited 1-0 win over fellow Championship Reading, earlier this month.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

Brighton 2 (Cox, Murray) Port Vale 3 (Richards (2), Whitaker), League One, April 2008

Port Vale 0 Brighton 1 (Revell), League One, October 2007

Brighton 0 Port Vale, League One, January 2007

STATS:

This is the first FA Cup meeting between Port Vale and Brighton & Hove Albion since January 1932, when Vale won 2-1 on the south coast.

Brighton have scored in 12 of their last 13 fourth round games (excluding replays), but have only won five of them (D1 L7).

Vale have not made the fifth round of the FA Cup since 1995/96, when they defeated Everton in a replay at this stage.

The Seagulls are unbeaten in eight FA Cup games against teams from lower divisions, though they have drawn five of these clashes.

ODDS:

Port Vale to win: 4.2

Brighton to win: 1.83

Draw: 3.6

TV: Highlights on ITV 1 at 10:45pm.

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