Two minute guide to: Peterborough (A)
As Vale prepare to travel to Peterborough United, here’s our brief guide to our next opponents.
Port Vale
Manager: Micky Adams
Last match: 1-2 vs Chesterfield
Form guide: L-L-L-D-W
Peterborough Utd
Manager: Darren Ferguson
Last match: 2-3 vs Leyton Orient
Form guide: L-W-W-L-W
Team news
Vale could make changes after their poor recent results. A number of fringe players including Adam Yates, Louis Dodds, Chris Birchall, Byron Moore, Nathan Smith and Ryan Lloyd were all given a run-out in the reserves and may come into contention.
Here’s our patented “finger in the air” possible starting XI:
Johnson
Yates – Duffy – McGivern – Dickinson (c)
Brown
Marshall – O’Connor – Lines – Lloyd
Pope
Pre-match quote
“I think Peterborough are going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, they’ve shown over the seasons that they are capable of achieving their goals. It’s going to be a tough test for us, but every game in this division is going to be tough for whatever reason…”
– Rob Page
Last time we met
The two sides played out a goalless draw in the final game of last season. The match witnessed the final Vale appearances of Jennison Myrie-Williams, Billy Knott, Gavin Tomlin, Jordan Hugill and a cameo from the retiring Chris Shuker (above).
Overall record
- Vale wins: 16
- Peterborough wins: 15
- Draws: 15
Trivia
Vale haven’t won at London Road for four matches. The Valiants’ last win came back in 2003 when goals from Steve Brooker and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson helped Vale to a 2-1 win. Andy Edwards was sent-off for the home side.
The Posh were a lucky side for Bridge-Wilkinson (above) who hit three goals in four appearances against them.
They played for both…
There have been a number of players to appear for both sides including:
- Striker Dave Hibbert
- The much maligned Exodus Geogaghan
- Striker Justin Richards
- Defender Sagi Burton
- Striker Callum Willock
- Midfielder Danny Sonner
- Striker Leon Constantine (above)
2001 – Vale hit five
Vale’s home victory in March 2001 remains the club’s biggest win over Peterborough.
Vale were leading one-nil at half-time thanks to Tony Naylor’s 20th minute opener but the Vale hit four more in the final 33 minutes.
The second came from infrequent scorer Allen Tankard on 57 minutes, folowed two minutes later by another from Alex Smith. Then Vale hit another two in the final ten minutes – firstly from Bridge-Wilkinson’s penalty and a 90th minute strike from Michael Twiss (right) – one of just two goals he scored for the club.