Canvey were absolutely delighted to hear that FA Cup opponents Port Vale had triumphed at home on Saturday in their Nationwide League Division Two home game with Luton.

For, in the 87 matches the Vale Park outfit have played since Brian Horton took over as manager in January last year, they've never won two games on the trot.

The near 1,000 Gulls' fans making the trip for tonight's (Tuesday's) first round replay will be hoping that, come 9.30pm tonight, that statistic continues.

If it does it will mean that the Islanders will have pulled off probably the most remarkable result in the club's 74-year history to earn a second round home tie with the winners of Southend United's replay with Torquay at Roots Hall this evening.

Said Island boss Jeff King: "Obviously it's going to be very tough for us, but few who saw us come back from 4-2 down with a couple of minutes to go in the original game would rule us out.

"Our fans can play a major part tonight. We're playing away on one of the biggest playing surfaces in the country and we badly need our supporters to really get behind us and make plenty of noise.

"Whatever happens tonight, the players deserve fantastic credit for what they've achieved. All the pressure is on Vale - we've got nothing to lose.

"The supporters are always great in away games when the fact that they're outnumbered gets the old adrenalin flowing and it will be no different this evening."

Full-back Peter Smith, who enjoyed a great game in the original tie before suffering a shoulder injury late on, faces a fitness test, but there's no doubt that Gulls, whatever their final line-up, will go into action prepared to "have a go" at their more illustrious hosts.

General thinking is that to sit back and try to defend for 90 minutes would be suicidal and, in view of the wide open spaces at Vale Park, natural winger Sammy Cooper could find himself involved.

Port Vale are likely to make only one change from the team held by Canvey at Park Lane with Finnish international striker Ville Viljanen missing through injury.

This means highly-rated youngster Marc Bridge-Wilkinson switching up front to partner top scorer Tony Naylor to allow for the midfield return of Tommy Widdrington, who missed the original tie due to suspension.

(Right) Wing and a prayer - flankman Sammy Cooper, left, could figure for Gulls on the wide open spaces at Vale Park.

(Left) Nothing to lose - Jeff King leads his yellow army out against Port Vale tonight

Picture LUAN MARSHALL

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.