Two minute guide to: Sheff Utd (H)
Port Vale’s Boxing Day opponents are Sheffield United and here’s our brief guide to the game…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 2-1 vs Crawley
Form guide: W-L-D-L-W
Sheff Utd
Manager: Nigel Clough
Last match: 0-1 vs Bristol City
Form guide: D-W-D-W-L
Team news
Chris Lines: available once again
Rob Page will have to consider whether to stick or twist with his Vale line-up. Chris Lines is available again after serving his three match ban – but will Page want to split up Michael Brown and Michael O’Connor after their successful partnership against Crawley? It could happen though as O’Connor is a slight injury doubt for the game. Meanwhile, Louis Dodds will also have done his chances of selection no harm after his goal against Crawley.
Possible Vale starting XI:
Neal
Yates – Veseli – Robertson – Dickinson
Marshall – Brown – O’Connor – N’Guessan
Dodds
Williamson
Pre-match quote
“Hopefully that’s given him a problem and I can start again against Sheffield United…
– Louis Dodds
Last time we met
Louis Dodds: last person to score for Vale against Sheff Utd
The Valiants succumbed to two late goals as they lost 2-1 at home back in April. Louis Dodds had given Vale the lead only for Jamie Murphy and Chris Porter to score in the last ten minutes.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 5
- Sheff Utd wins: 22
- Draws: 9
Trivia
Marc Richards: double in a cup win for Vale
The Vale have to go all the way back to 1983 for their last home league win over the Blades – a run of nine games.
The Valiants last competitive win over Sheff Utd was in 2008 when Vale won a Carling Cup tie 2-1 thanks to two goals from Marc Richards.
Vale suffered their club record loss in 1892 when they went down 10-0 at home to Sheff Utd.
They played for both…
Michael Brown: set to face his former club
Veteran midfielder Michael Brown is set to play against a side for whom he made over 150 appearances between 1999 and 2004.
However, one player who isn’t is loanee Jordan Slew, who isn’t set to feature again for Vale. Slew started his career at Sheffield United before moving to Blackburn Rovers.
Manager Rob Page also spent a spell at the Blades. He made over a hundred appearances between 2001 and 2004.
Meanwhile, we hope it’s a happier return for former Vale loanee Florent Cuvelier. The Frenchman suffered a serious injury when making his loan debut for the Vale but he’s battled back and is set to be in the Blades squad.
Other players to appear for both sides include:
- Geoff Horsfield
- Rob Kozluk
- Gary Mulligan