Vale's Yates is braced for replay

Yates scored his first Vale goal in the 1-1 draw with Stevenage on Saturday

Port Vale will not find it easy to get past non-league Stevenage Borough in their FA Cup first round replay, according to defender Adam Yates.

Yates' first goal for the Valiants was not enough to see off Stevenage, who equalised in second-half stoppage time.

The former Morecambe right-back told BBC Radio Stoke: "Stevenage have been knocking on the door to the Football League for a few years now.

"For them to come here and play so well deserves a pat on the back."

The replay will take place on Tuesday, 17 November (1945 GMT), with the winners hosting Huddersfield in round two.

Yates returned to the starting line-up for the game in place of Sam Stockley, who announced his retirement because of an eye injury.

"Sam's been brilliant for the lads and he's left a side that's winning and doing well," added Yates.

"It's nice for me to come into a side that's doing well rather than one that's losing, but it's no certainty that I'll be playing every week.

"Look at Louis Dodds, he scored last week against Dagenham and then he finds himself on the bench."

Vale are back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to Bradford in the northern section quarter final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.