Two minute guide to: Crawley (A)
As Port Vale prepare to visit Crawley Town, here’s our brief guide to our next opponents…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 0-2 vs Coventry
Form guide: L-D-L-W-L
Crawley
Manager: John Gregory
Last match: 0-1 vs Bristol City
Form guide: L-D-D-D-L
Team news
Michael O’Connor: returns to the Vale starting line-up
Rob Page could make changes after a somewhat toothless display against Coventry. Michael O’Connor is set to return to the midfield but Chris Lines remains suspended. Ryan McGivern is a slight doubt after being injured during the Coventry game.
Upfront, it could be interesting. Achille Campion is pressing strongly for a start after his brace for the reserves. However, any of Campion, Dany N’Guessan, Ben Williamson or Alex Nimely may be pressed into action. Tom Pope will be missing through injury while it is unlikely that loanee Jordan Slew will feature for Vale again.
Home side Crawley welcome back left-back Ryan Dickson but top-scorer Izale McLeod is suspended.
Possible Vale starting XI:
Neal
Yates – Veseli – Robertson – Dickinson
Marshall – Brown – O’Connor – Daniel
Campion – N’Guessan
Pre-match quote
“Port Vale at home is not such a sexy tie as coming to Ashton Gate so we have to motivate ourselves…
– Crawley boss John Gregory
Last time we met
Doug Loft: last person to score for Vale against Crawley
The Valiants won 2-1 at home in an eventful April Fool’s Day encounter. A Billy Clarke penalty put the visitors ahead before Billy Knott equalised and Crawley’s Danny Bullman was sent-off. Skipper Doug Loft put Vale in front on 80 minutes before Vale were reduced to ten men as Chris Robertson saw red.
In the fixture at Broadfield Stadium, some radical selection changes by Micky Adams saw the Vale triumph 3-0. Jordan Hugill was handed a debut and he set up the first goal for Louis Dodds before Doug Loft and Ben Williamson made it three to the Valiants.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 2
- Crawley wins: 1
- Draws: 1
Trivia
Chris Robertson: will it be 300-up?
It’s set to be a notable day for Vale defender Chris Robertson. If he plays he will be making the 300th senior appearance of his footballing career.
On a different note, this could be the last Vale appearance for Dany N’Guessan should he fail to agree an extension to his short-term deal.
They played for both…
Gavin Tomlin: set to face the Valiants
Former Valiant striker Gavin Tomlin is set to face Vale for the first time since leaving in the summer. Tomlin had a stop-start spell at the club last season with injuries restricting him to six goals from 28 appearances.
It’s a small list of players who have played for both clubs but it includes winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie who had a loan spell with Vale in 2010 plus strikers Callum Willock and Guy Madjo.