Two minute guide: Port Vale v Walsall
Port Vale take on local rivals Walsall on Boxing Day. Here’s our brief guide…
In the picture:
The story behind our choice of image we’ve chosen to lead the article with…
Highlights of the penalty shootout (note: some bad language)
We couldn’t do a Walsall preview without mentioning that epic penalty shootout win in 2012 when Sam Johnson (pictured being mobbed in our top image) stole the show. Johnson was making his first appearance for the first-team and he not only saved three penalties in the shoot-out but scored the winning goal himself. He later confessed he had never taken a penalty before. You can read our match report here
The two sides
Port Vale
- Manager: Bruno Ribeiro
- Last match: 0-4 vs Wimbledon
- Top scorer: Jones (10)
Walsall
- Manager: Jon Whitley
- Last match: 1-1 vs Bradford
- Top scorer: Oxtumer (8)
Match details
Venue:
Vale Park
Date:
26th December 2016
Tickets:
Online Port Vale ticketing website
Pre-match thoughts
“We come together on the training pitch to improve and hopefully that can put us to getting a good result against Walsall…”
Michael Brown
Vale team news
After the debacle at Wimbledon, Vale will no doubt welcome back experienced trio Jerome Thomas (right), Ben Purkiss and Anthony Grant with open arms. Grant has returned from suspension while Thomas and Purkiss are back in training after injuries.
Last time we met…
The two sides met in the final game of last season when Walsall triumphed 5-0 at Vale Park. For the sake of everyone’s sanity we’re not going to include the video highlights.
Overall record
Port Vale wins: 22
Port Vale losses: 40
Draws: 26
Form guide
Club connections
There have been a large number of players to appear for both sides over the years. Those players include…
- Striker Richard O’Kelly
- Midfielder Florent Cuvelier
- Striker Ally Brown
- Midfielder Romaine Sawyers
- Defender Kris Taylor
- Striker Bernie Wright
- Goalkeeper Keith Ball
- Forward Tony Richards (pictured)
- Goalkeeper Trevor Wood
- Defender Dean Smith
- Midfielder Kenny Beech
- Defender Clayton McDonald
Did you know…
- The clubs first met competitively in 1892
- That first game ended in a 3-0 win for the Valiants
- John Lander scored Vale’s first-ever goal against Walsall in that game
- Vale’s biggest win was a 5-1 thumping in 1938
- The scorers in that win were Davies (2), Nolan, Roberts (pictured right) and Masters