Two minute guide to: Stevenage
After all the events off the pitch, it’s a relief to focus on our next game with this brief guide…
Port Vale
Manager: Micky Adams
Last game: 0-5 vs Bristol City
Form: L-W-D-L-W
Top scorer: Pope (15)
Stevenage
Manager: David Brent Graham Westley
Last game: 0-1 vs Coventry
Form: L-L-D-D-W
Top scorer: Zoko (16)
Team news
The Valiants include promising reserve keeper Tom Pope in their line-up for the game following a transfer embargo. Pope will deputise for Sam Johnson if the youngster gets injured as Vale are unable to bring in cover for the injured Chris Neal and ill Ryan Boot.
Otherwise, Vale will be missing the suspended Carl Dickinson and Jack Grimmer (recalled by Fulham) with Dan Jones and Chris Robertson expected to fill in. Vale will welcome the return of playmaker Chris Lines who could play in place of Anthony Griffith.
Tom Flanagan, Anderson Banvo and Conor Henderson could all make their Stevenage debuts. Defender Flanagan has joined on loan from Milton Keynes, striker Banvo arrived from Blackpool and midfielder Henderson was signed from Hull
Possible Vale starting XI:
Johnson
Yates Robertson Duffy Jones
Myrie-Williams Knott Lines Loft
Williamson Pope
Pre-match quotes
Adams: Vale need to stand up and be counted
“They are big and strong, that’s for sure, they are the biggest side I have seen in the league, but I don’t want to decry that, everybody has their own methods and ideas about how they can be successful at this level. But we have certainly got to stand up and be counted, particularly at free kicks and corners, and we all know our recent history in that regard. So we will have to pick a side accordingly, but we have got to get back on track and try and get the disappointment about Tuesday night out of our systems.”
– Micky Adams
” will want to bounce back from a heavy defeat so they’ll be focused. It’s a tough job but we won’t go into any game between now and the end of the season believing we can’t win.”
– Graham Westley
History
Tom Pope: scored in the last meeting
Last time we met
Jennison Myrie-Williams and goalkeeper striker Tom Pope were on target as Vale drew 2-2 back in September
Overall record
- Vale wins: 1
- Stevenage wins: 2
- Draws: 2
Did you know?
Vale have yet to win at Stevenage in the league. The only other meeting, in 2011, ended in a 1-0 win to Stevenage. However, Vale did win an FA Cup game 1-0 in 2009 with Louis Dodds (right) netting the winner.
Connections
Jenno: back to his former club
Jennison Myrie-Williams will be hoping to prove a point after an unproductive spell at Stevenage from 2011-12. Signed from St Johnstone, the winger had just three first-team starts during a 12 month stint with the Hertfordshire side.
According to fellow Valiant Adam Yates earlier in the season, Myrie-Williams “has seemed to have had a bee in his bonnet about it ever since” although Yates adds that the winger is “certainly someone I would want in my side, rather than be playing against.”
Defender Chris Robertson also played under Graham Westley at Preston North End.
More connections
Other players who appeared for both clubs include:
- Guy Madjo
- Justin Richards (right)
- Darren Murphy
- Paul Mahorn
- Callum Willock
- Jay O’Shea
- Daryl McMahon
- Colin Miles
- Steve Guppy
Opposing views
Read the views of a Stevenage fans ahead of the game (and Vale please take note):
“We’ve recently taken on a new CEO in the shape of Barry Webber and he has got stuck in right away in trying to improve our attendances and income streams and hopefully we’ll see the fruits of his labour in the not too distant future. There are already signs that he’s doing good work…”