Port Vale will attempt to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1995-96 season when they host Brighton & Hove Albion at Vale Park on Saturday.

The hosts made it to the fourth round courtesy of a dramatic 3-2 win over Plymouth Argyle in a replay last Tuesday, a result that ended a three-match winless streak for Micky Adams's side.

A 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic on Saturday left Port Vale eighth in the League One table, five points off the playoff positions.

That result also made it six games without defeat in front of their own fans for Port Vale, and they will rely on home advantage in their attempt to pull off a shock result this weekend.

They will have to do it without Carl Dickinson, however, as the defender is suspended for Saturday's match.

While Port Vale are chasing the playoffs in League One, Brighton are doing the same a division above and sit just two points behind sixth-placed Reading in the Championship.

It was Reading who they beat to reach this stage of the FA Cup, but the Royals replaced Brighton in the playoff positions last weekend after the Seagulls fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Derby County.

That ended a four-match unbeaten streak for Oscar Garcia's side, while it was just their third away defeat since the opening day of the season.

The Championship outfit have struggled for goals recently, only scoring more than two in a game once since December 7, and managing just four in their last five matches.

They will be without Craig Mackail-Smith once again as the striker continues his journey back to fitness following a lengthy absence through injury.

Recent form

Port Vale: WLDLWW

Brighton: LWDWWL

Possible starting lineups

Port Vale: Neal; Chilvers, Robertson, Grimmer, Davis; Griffith, Loft, Cuvelier, Williamson; Myrie-Williams, Pope

Brighton: Kuszczak; Greer, Upson, Ward, Bruno; Ince, Lopez, Orlandi, Andrews, Forster-Caskey; Ulloa

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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