Two minute guide to: Peterborough Utd v Port Vale
It’s been built-up as a crucial game for Port Vale’s season – how will the Valiants fare against Peterborough United? We take a look…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 2-0 vs Colchester United
Form guide: D-L-W-D-W
Peterborough United
Manager: Graham Westley
Last match: 1-1 vs Wigan
Form guide: L-L-L-L-D
Team news
Vale are boosted by the return of AJ Leitch-Smith (above) and goalkeeper Jak Alnwick but whether either will play is debatable. Theo Robinson scored in Leitch-Smith’s absence while Chris Neal kept a clean sheet.
Pre-match thoughts
Here’s Paul Bodin and Michael O’Connor at the pre-match press conference.
Last time we met
A first Vale goal from Ebo Andoh wasn’t enough as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw back in October.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 17
- Peterborough wins: 16
- Draws: 15
Port Vale’s recent record against Peterborough: D-W-L-D-L
Vale’s last away victory over Peterborough was in 2003 when Marc Bridge-Wilkinson scored the winner in a 2-1 victory.
Memorable match
The Valiants hammered five past Peterborough back in March 2001. The Vale goalscorers on that day were Tony Naylor, Allen Tankard, Alex Smith, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (pen) and Michael Twiss.
Played for both
Players to appear for both sides include striker Carl Griffiths, midfielder Kenny Beech, striker David Riley, targetman Ronnie Jepson, striker Andy Clarke and striker Justin Richards. The infamous (in Vale terms) Jim Gannon has managed both clubs.
Trivia
Midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was a regular thorn in the side of Peterborough in the early noughties. He scored three goals in three games against the Posh from 2001 to 2004.
More trivia
- The clubs first met competitively in 1961 with Vale losing the first game 1-0
- It didn’t take Vale long to recover though – they recorded their first win in the return fixture – a 3-1 win in 1961
- Vale’s biggest win is that 5-0 victory back in 2001 (see above)
- The Valiants’ biggest loss was a 4-0 reverse in 2004.