Two minute guide to: Port Vale v Walsall
It looks like being a cracker as Vale host their local rivals in front of a bumper Vale Park crowd…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 0-1 vs Scunthorpe
Form guide: W-W-L
Walsall
Manager: Jon Whitney
Last match: 3-1 vs Fleetwood
Form guide: L-W-W
* Oldest result on left
Team news
Vale’s top-scorer AJ Leitch-Smith could make the starting line-up in place of Theo Robinson. Remie Streete is expected to miss out with a hamstring injury so Adam Yates is expected to come into the side. Walsall could be unchanged as they look to seal automatic promotion.
Pre-match thoughts
“Walsall have everything to play for but we have a lot to play for as well. We want to finish on a high. We don’t want to finish with a whimper, we want to finish with a bang, that’s the plan…”
Port Vale manager Rob Page
Any other business?
The Port Vale Supporters Club will present their player of the year on the pitch just before kick-off. Guest of honour for the presentation will be Frankie Allen.
The Valiants have also released a statement urging fans to stay off the pitch at the final whistle. You can read it here
Match odds
You can use the expert analysis at hityah.com to find out all the latest League One odds plus check the latest Premier League live scores
Last time we met
In a match broadcast live on television, the Valiants came out second-best as they lost 2-0 in December.
Vale’s overall record
- Wins: 22
- Defeats: 39
- Draws: 26
Port Vale’s recent record: L-W-D
Memorable match
We couldn’t miss this one out. On his full debut, goalkeeper Sam Johnson is hero both in and in front of the goal during a dramatic JPT shootout.
Played for both
Walsall defender James O’Connor will be facing the Valiants – a club he joined on loan back in 2004. O’Connor made 15 appearances while on loan from Aston Villa. Another Walsall player Romaine Sawyers also had a brief loan spell with Vale back in 2011.
Other players to appear for both sides include:
- Striker Richard O’Kelly
- Forward Tony Richards (above)
- Goalkeeper Trevor Wood
- Defender Dean Smith
- Midfielder Kenny Beech
- Defender Clayton McDonald
Trivia
- 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 (above right) and Masters