After a busy period of Premier League fixtures, albeit one that was not quite as intense as it could have been, Brentford will put their league campaign on hold for a period. The next time Brentford are in action, it will be for their first Emirates FA Cup tie as a Premier League side. The Bees will visit Port Vale on Saturday, 8 January, for a Third Round tie that will kick-off at 3pm.

Brentford completed a run of four games in 12 days with victory over Aston Villa yesterday, Sunday 2 January. Mads Roerslev scored the winner as The Bees completed a come-from-behind success in West London. Yoane Wissa had equalised for The Bees after Danny Ings had put Villa in front.

That ended a run of losses that saw The Bees eliminated in a Carabao Cup Quarter Final by Chelsea. Brentford also lost to Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City in the Premier League. Brentford had taken seven points from four games prior to that and had also seen matches against Southampton and Manchester United postponed in a busy five week period.

As they have a mini break in their Premier League campaign, Brentford sit 12th in the table. The Bees are below Crystal Palace on goal difference, having played a game fewer than the South London side. Brentford sit in the middle of a group of eight teams separated by six points.

This is Brentford's first away tie in the FA Cup Third Round since 2013. Brentford have been drawn at home in the Third Round for seven successive seasons before this one. In the year prior to that, 2013/14, Brentford were a League One side and lost in the Second Round to Carlisle United. The year before, The Bees were drawn away to Southend United in a Third Round tie.

Brentford have reached the Fourth Round in the past two seasons. Both times The Bees were beaten by Leicester City at that stage. Last year, Brentford beat Middlesbrough in a Third Round tie before losing 3-1 in the Fourth Round, despite taking the lead through Mads Bech.

Port Vale reached this stage with a 2-1 win away to League One Burton Albion. They knocked out another League One side, Accrington Stanley, in the First Round. They have not made it past the Third Round since the 2013/14 season.

Vale have only played twice since that Second Round win four weeks ago. They beat Bristol Rovers and lost to Newport County, both away from home. They were third in the table after the Newport loss, four weeks ago, but have slipped to sixth due to inactivity. They are four points behind Sutton United, who are third, but have played two games fewer.

The teams last met in the 2013/14 season. They drew 1-1 at Vale Park on the opening day of the season and Brentford won the return game 2-0. Port Vale have not beaten Brentford since December 2006, with The Bees winning four and drawing one of five meetings since.

Tickets are still available for this match. They are only available from our Box Office. See full ticket information here.

The match is not live on TV in the UK. Brentford fans can listen live on Bees Player. Full information on the service can be seen here.

Fans attending the game are reminded that COVID-19 protocols are in place at all major outdoor events. Brentford supporters will need to show proof of their COVID status to gain entry. This is a condition of attendance. See full details of all Brentford FC COVID protocols here.