Two minute guide to: Bristol City (A)
The Valiants face a daunting trip to the West County to face promotion favourites City – here’s our brief preview…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 2-2 vs Bradford
Form guide: D-L-L-W-L
Bristol City
Manager: Steve Cotterill
Last match: 0-0 vs Milton Keynes
Form guide: D-W-D-L-W
Team news
Achille Campion: may be handed a starting place
The name on most Vale fans’ lips will be that of Achille Campion. Some fans have been calling for the striker to be given a chance after a prolific spell in the reserves and he marked only his fifth venture from the bench with a goal against Bradford. Will he be handed a start on Tuesday night? Well, Vale could be missing Colin Daniel and Chris Lines was replaced at half-time, so there are openings for the Frenchman. It would mean that Vale would have to switch from the favoured 4-5-1 if Campion partners Tom Pope upfront. Ben Williamson could come onto the bench after recovering from a minor hamstring tear.
Bristol City will assess striker Aaron Wilbraham before naming their squad.
Possible starting XI:
Neal
Veseli – Duffy – Robertson – Dickinson (c)
Marshall – Brown – O’Connor – Birchall
Pope – Campion
Pre-match quote
“As a player you want to pit yourself against the better players, the better teams and this is a great occasion for the lads to go and have a go…”
– Rob Page
Last time we met
Micky Adams: resigned after the home defeat
The last meeting, which ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for Bristol City was notable for the departure of Micky Adams as Vale manager. Adams was replaced by Rob Page for the next fixture – a home win over Barnsley.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 31
- City wins: 39
- Draws: 17
Trivia
Vale’s recent record against Bristol City is pitiful with the Valiants not recording a win for the last EIGHT games. The last victory was back in 2004 when Craig James (right) , Steve Brooker and Ian Armstrong scored in a 3-0 home win.
That 2004 game was actually Vale’s third straight win over City in the mid-noughties. Striker Steve Brooker (later to join City) was a particular nemesis scoring in both games at Vale Park.
The last Vale player to score against City was veteran striker Lee Hughes (right) who netted a 90th minute equaliser at Vale Park last season.
In the first four seasons that the two sides met (1902-3, 1903-4 and 1904-5) the results went EXACTLY as you would predict. Vale won all four of their home ties while City also won all their home games.
They played for both…
Vale defender Ryan McGivern (above) will be hoping to line-up against the side he joined on loan back in 2011. McGivern made 31 appearances for the Robins while on loan from Manchester City. After a spell with SPL side Hibernian, he joined the Valiants in the summer.
There have been a number of other players to appear for both sides including:
- Winger Jennison Myrie-Williams
- Striker Steve Brooker (right)
- Defender Clayton Fortune
- Full-back Micky Bell
- Striker and sicknote Lee Matthews
- Midfielder Tony Dinning
- Winger Tony Rougier
- Striker Andy Jones
- Striker Calvin Andrew
- Full-back Russell Bromage
- Striker Peter Beadle
Colin Daniel, an unlikely hero…
Should Colin Daniel take to the field for the Valiants, he is likely to be serenaded by Bristol City fans.
Daniel has no connection to Ashton Gate other than for the fact that it was his goal for Mansfield Town that effectively relegated bitter rivals Bristol Rovers out of the Football League.
Since that game, City fans have posted on social media about how they plan to cheer Daniel when they next encounter him…