Two minute guide to: Gillingham v Port Vale
We preview the action ahead of Port Vale’s trip to take on Gillingham on Saturday…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 3-0 vs Crewe
Form guide: L-L-W
Gillingham
Manager: Justin Edinburgh
Last match: 0-3 vs Peterborough
Form guide: D-D-L
* Oldest result on left
Team news
The Valiants are likely to be unchanged after the home win over Crewe although striker JJ Hooper is pushing for a start after two goals in two games.
Gillingham have concerns about loanees Adam El-Abd and George Williams.
Pre-match thoughts
Port Vale’s Paul Bodin
Last time we met
It finished as a draw earlier in the season with Louis Dodds and Bradley Dack on the scoresheet.
Vale’s overall record
- Wins: 16
- Defeats: 15
- Draws: 17
Port Vale’s recent record: D-W-D
Played for both
The Valiants could be facing former skipper Doug Loft who moved to Gillingham two seasons ago. Loft was player of the year in 2012 and skippered the side to promotion in 2013. However, Ben Williamson will not be facing the Valiants after a disastrous move to Gills this summer. The striker turned down a Vale contract offer to move but failed to break through into the first-team. He has now moved to Cambridge United on a permanent basis.
Other players to appear for both sides include: centre-half Gary West, forward Gary Mulligan, forward Basil Hayward and midfielder Jeff Johnson.
Trivia
Goals are pretty much guaranteed when Vale travel to Gillingham. The last time the fixture was goalless was back in 1987 – a run of some ten games.
More trivia
- The clubs first met competitively in 1950
- That first game ended in a 1-1 draw
- Syd Peppit scored in that fixture – Vale’s first-ever goal against the Gills
- Vale’s last away win against Gillingham came in 2013