Two minute guide to: Yeovil (H)
One Vale fan has made a near 24,000 mile round trip to see the Vale play Yeovil. This and other facts in our brief guide to the game…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page (interim)
Last match: 2-3 vs Preston
Form guide: L-L-D-W-L
Yeovil
Manager: Gary Johnson
Last match: 0-2 vs Milton Keynes
Form guide: L-L-W-D-L
Team news
Michael O’Connor: returns to the midfield
Rob Page has continued to add to his squad with the latest arrival being Remie Streete from Newcastle United. The centre-half is expected to go straight into the squad, probably at the expense of Stephane Zubar. However, Zubar could challenge Adam Yates for the right-back slot. Elsewhere, Michael O’Connor is expected to return to the midfield after being rested in midweek.
The other decision for Rob Page is whether to bring in Ben Williamson to partner Tom Pope or continue with the 4-3-3 formation. As this is the wide expanses of Vale Park, we’re guessing he’ll switch back to 4-4-2 and with that in mind, here’s our guesswork starting XI…
Neal
Yates – Duffy – Streete – Dickinson (c)
Dodds – Lines – O’Connor – Marshall
Pope – Williamson
Pre-match quote
“Week in, week out, home or away, you go out and you give everything for the jersey and if you do that you stand a good chance of winning games of football…”
– Rob Page
Last time we met
The two sides last met back in 2008 in a competitive 2-2 draw at Vale Park. Gary Dempsey gave Yeovil an early lead before Adam Eckersley, with his only Vale goal, equalised on 38 minutes. The visitors went ahead through Andy Kirk on 52 minutes only for winger Paul Edwards (right) to equalise six minutes later.
Earlier that season it had finished 1-0 to Yeovil at Huish Park.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 2
- Yeovil wins: 3
- Draws: 1
Trivia
Vale’s biggest victory against Yeovil came in 2004 when Leon Constantine (right) scored twice in a 4-2 Vale win.
Vale have yet to win at Huish Park with the home side winning all three encounters by the scoreline 1-0.
Just FOUR players have scored for Vale against Yeovil. They are Leon Constantine (3), Adam Eckersley, Paul Edwards and Danny Whitaker.
That list should mean the Valiants have scored six times against the Glover but in fact the Vale have notched up SEVEN goals – that’s because Matthew Rose netted an own-goal in the 4-2 game.
They played for both…
Colin Miles (above) is regarded as a cult hero in the Yeovil area but sadly his exploits for the Valiants are less lauded. The tough-tackling defender joined Vale in 2006 after a five year spell with the Glovers. But his time at Vale Park was notable only for a series of injuries and loss of form. He was released in 2008 and joined Woking.
A more recognisable Vale hero is Basil Hayward (right) who was the striker in the legendary 1954 team. He finished his Football League playing career in 1960 after a brief spell at Portsmouth and joined Yeovil as player-manager.
Hayward was in charge during a number of notable FA Cup wins before leaving the role in 1964.
Other players to appear for both clubs include:
- Striker Gavin Tomlin
- Winger Dominic Blizzard
- Winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie
- Striker Luke Rodgers (right)
- Defender Darren Purse
- Striker Craig Davies
- Striker Lee Matthews
Almost 24,000 miles to see Vale play…
It’s a memorable game for Conrad Wildig, a moderator on the OVF forum. Conrad has made the long trip from Wellington, New Zealand (a round trip of 23,254 miles) to see Vale’s game against Fleetwood and this match against Yeovil.
Conrad also celebrated his birthday this week and we hope that the Vale put on a performance which will allow the celebrations to continue.