Two minute guide to: Port Vale v Oxford Utd
It’s the first round of the FA Cup – can Neil Aspin’s side serve up a giantkilling on a Friday night?
Essentials
Match details
- FA Cup
- Friday 3rd November
- Vale Park
- Away fans… there is parking available a five minute walk away from the stadium at Haywood Academy ST6 7AB. Cost is just £3 per car.
Team news
What will the Vale look like?
Well, it’s all about the keeper isn’t it? Rob Lainton and Kelle Roos are injured but Sam Hornby, Dimitar Evtimov and Ryan Boot are fit with Boot (right) the favourite to start. Jack Stobbs could also come into the side in place of Cristian Montano after Stobbs scored one and made two for the reserves. Striker Dan Turner is also pushing for a place.
What about the opposition?
Oxford are likely to name a strong side for the tie although their could be changes from their last game. Rob Hall is among a number of players pushing for a starting place.
Pre-match quote
“We are disappointed and the fans will be disappointed but it is up to us to put that right on Friday…”
Vale captain Danny Pugh
Boss watch
Pep Clotet
A League One side taking a punt on a foreign manager with no lower league management history… no, we’re not talking about Vale’s disastrous Ribeiro gamble last season. Clotet has served an apprenticeship with assistant manager spells with both Swansea and Leeds United. So far, the 40 year-old has won seven of his nineteen games in charge.
History lesson
Overall record
- Port Vale wins: 10
- Port Vale losses: 13
- Draws: 10
Cup record…
The two sides have played each other twice in the FA Cup. In what was the sides’ first encounter with each other it ended in a 2-2 first round draw in 1966. In the replay at Vale Park, the Valiants triumphed 3-2 thanks to goals from Brian Taylor (right), Jackie Mudie and Irishman Jimmy Hill who scored the winner.
Played for both…
Tyrone Barnett (below right) is expected to be on the bench for the Vale. The striker had a spell on loan with Oxford back in 2014. Team mate Cristian Montano also had a spell on loan with Oxford in 2012. Former Vale youth team graduate Charlie Raglan is in the Oxford squad although he is yet to make an appearance this season.
Other players to appear for both clubs include:
- Winger Craig Russell
- Goalkeeper Arjan van Heusden
- Midfielder Sam Togwell
- Midfielder John Durnin
- Winger Chris Allen
- Defender Ben Purkiss
- Forward Sean Rigg
- Striker Martin Foyle