Two minute guide to: Port Vale v Rochdale
We preview the action ahead of the OVF sponsored home game against Rochdale on Saturday…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 2-0 vs Gillingham
Form guide: L-W-W
Rochdale
Manager: Keith Hill
Last match: 1-1 vs Gillingham
Form guide: W-W-D
* Oldest result on left
Team news
Vale would probably have been hoping that the only decision would be whether to stick or twist with the 3-5-2 formation that worked so well against Gillingham. The key decision would have been whether to stick with defender Ryan McGivern or bring back winger Sam Kelly (above).
However, it isn’t as simple as that. Midfielder Anthony Grant is suspended with veteran Michael Brown expected to fill in. Meanwhile, Louis Dodds, AJ Leitch-Smith and Ben Purkiss are all injury doubts. JJ Hooper and Adam Yates are leading contenders to fill in.
Rochdale welcome back strikers Ian Henderson and former Valiant Calvin Andrew.
Pre-match thoughts
Port Vale’s Michael O’Connor
Last time we met
Port Vale lost 2-1 back in November. Chris Birchall scored for Vale but skipper Carl Dickinson saw red in the closing stages as Vale were defeated.
Vale’s overall record
- Wins: 21
- Defeats: 10
- Draws: 23
Port Vale’s recent record: W-L-L
Played for both
Louis Dodds spent a spell on loan with Rochdale before joining the Valiants in 2008. Meanwhile, striker Calvin Andrew will return to the Valiants. Andrew had a brief spell with the club during the 2012-13 promotion season.
Trivia
- The clubs first met competitively in 1929
- That first game ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw
- In fact, that was the start of a run of five draws between the two sides
- The deadlock was finally broken in 1937 when Vale won 4-1
- Vale’s biggest win was a 6-0 thrashing in 1953