Two minute guide to: Port Vale v Coventry City

Can Port Vale continue their good home form with a win against Coventry City on Sunday?

Team news

Ryan McGivern: available for selection but will he feature?

It would not be unexpected if the Valiants were to line-up with an unchanged line-up after the win over Swindon Town. However, Ryan McGivern has returned from suspension and Rob Page will have to decide whether McGivern rekindles his partnership with Richard Duffy or whether loanee Ryan Inniss keeps his place.

Elsewhere, wingers Matthew Kennedy and Louis Dodds are most under threat if changes are made. Both wide men were substituted for Sam Kelly and Byron Moore respectively.

Opponents Coventry could make changes after a poor run of results. Manager Tony Mowbray has hinted that loanees Jack Stephen and Baily Cargill have a chance of making the team. Mowbray told the Coventry Telegraph: “I think they’ve got a chance .”

Pre-match thoughts

Ryan Inniss on the game

Any other match business

There will be cash turnstiles open on Sunday

Two points of note:

• Following a thread on the OVF Forum, the club have moved to point out that the gates to Burslem Park (off Hamil Road) will be closed on Sunday an hour before kick-off.
• There will be three cash turnstiles open in the Railway Stand, Railway Paddock and Bycars Stand. However, fans are reminded that it is exact change only

Last time we met

Vale suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat

Overall record

• Vale wins: 11
• Coventry wins: 9
• Draws: 9

Port Vale’s recent record against Coventry: W-D-L-W-L

Memorable match

Vale come from behind to win 3-2 back in 2013

Played for both

Richard Duffy had four spells with Coventry City

There are a number of current Valiants with Coventry connections.  Manager Rob Page made 70 appearances for the Sky Blues from 2005 to 2008.

Defender Richard Duffy had four loan spells with the Sky Blues while captain Carl Dickinson was also sent to Coventry on loan. Injured midfielder Chris Birchall was purchased by Coventry from Port Vale for £325,000 in 2006.

Elsewhere, controversial forward Alex Nimely spent a spell with Coventry as did winger Mark Marshall. Vale loanee Mohamed Coulibaly also had a temporary spell with our opponents and former manager Micky Adams both played for and managed City.

Further back, wing-half Billy Frith had spells with both clubs while Colin Lynam guested for both clubs during World War Two.

Trivia

Wilf Kirkham (centre) scored for Vale against Coventry

Vale’s biggest away victory is… not very much.

The Vale have won 1-0 on a couple of occasions but a 3-1 win back in 1924 remains the Valiants’ most comprehensive away win. The Vale scorers were Arthur Bridgett (with a brace) and all-time record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham.

Kirkham was playing in his first season for the club. He would go on to net 153 goals including 13 hat-tricks for the club. A crowd of 8,000 watched the game.