Manager Brian Horton has called on his Port Vale side to show more belief in themselves as they bid to avoid relegation from the First Division.

Vale are sat in 21st position - with only goals scored keeping them out of the bottom three ahead of Bury - and Horton knows that the next 13 games are crucial if Vale are to retain their current status.

Their form at Vale Park has been reasonably solid in recent weeks with consecutive victories over Huddersfield and Crystal Palace since Horton took charge and he will be looking to complete the hat-trick against City tomorrow.

The Vale boss believes the 4-0 hammering they received at Portsmouth in their last outing will have no influence on tomorrow's game.

He said: "It will be a tough match but we have forgotten about the Portsmouth match already.

"The table doesn't lie - Bradford are second on merit. But no-one is invincible in this league.

"What we have to do is go out believing we can win games - that is the only way we will survive."

Horton took charge at Vale Park after the 15-year reign of John Rudge, who once nearly took charge at Valley Parade, was brought abruptly to an end in mid-January with his sacking.

Rudge paid the penalty for a horrendous run of 11 defeats in 13 league games although his dismissal was met with protests by upset fans.

The sale of Lee Mills to City on the eve of the new season proved a major problem for Rudge - as his 20 subsequent goals for the Valley Parade side have proved.

Gareth Ainsworth's departure to Premiership Wimbledon also left a huge hole in the side.

This has been illustrated by the fact that the wideman's final away game for Vale in October, a 2-2 draw at Watford, is the last point the Potteries side have collected on their travels.

Since then, Vale have lost all ten league games away from home - a run they will have to end if they are to pull off an escape similar to last season where they avoided relegation with a final day victory at Huddersfield.

Vale will be without top scorer Martin Foyle tomorrow after he suffered medial ligament damage at Portsmouth last week with the on-loan Craig Russell likely to partner Marcus Bent up front.

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