Two minute guide: Port Vale v Oldham
After another away defeat, it’s back to home comforts for the Valiants. Will they find form against Oldham?
In the picture:
The story behind our choice of image we’ve chosen to lead the article with…
Taken from our OVF archives and photographed by Paul H, this is the moment that tempers flared during a match against Oldham back in 2002. The match itself finished as a 1-1 draw with Dean Holden giving the visitors the lead before Steve McPhee equalised for the Valiants just two minutes after coming on as a sub. Here are some photos:
That dust-up again
Brett Angell towers above the Oldham players
Vale defend
The Vale team that day was:
Goodlad, Brightwell, Carragher, Rowland (McPhee 64), Collins, Durnin, Charnock, Cummins, Ashcroft, Paynter, Angell
The two sides
Port Vale
- Manager: Bruno Ribeiro
- Last match: 0-2 vs Charlton Athletic
- Top scorer: Alex Jones (9)
Oldham Athletic
- Manager: Steve Robinson
- Last match: 0-1 vs Scunthorpe Utd
- Top scorer: Erwin, Ladapo (3)
Match details
Venue:
Vale Park
Date:
22nd November 2016
Tickets:
Go to Port Vale’s online ticket website
Pre-match thoughts
“We are still working. We lost this game but we have a game on Tuesday to start winning again…”
Vale manager Bruno Ribeiro
“If we dominate possession and keep the ball then it makes our chances of winning the game more, but if we can’t put the ball in the back of the net then we will never get anything so it is something that we need to improve on…”
Vale defender Remie Streete
Vale team news
Will Bruno Ribeiro shuffle his pack again for the visit of Oldham Athletic? Anthony Grant’s FA charges mean the midfielder is now serving a lengthy ban while Anton Forrester (right) was named on the bench on Saturday. Many Vale fans would be happy with a front two of Jones and Forrester but Ribeiro may have other ideas.
Last time we met…
The two sides last met back in March when it finished in a 1-1 draw (Sam Foley scoring for Vale). The last meeting at Vale Park also ended in a 1-1 draw with Uche Ikpeazu on the scoresheet for the Valiants.
Overall record
Port Vale wins: 31
Port Vale losses: 28
Draws: 16
Form guide
Club connections
Featured player
Striker Len Stephenson was a £5,000 Port Vale purchase in March 1955. Joining from Nottingham Forest, the forward made his mark during his second season with the club. Len hit 14 goals making him that season’s top-scorer. It included braces against Rotherham and Blackpool. However, after Vale’s disastrous 1956-57 season, Stephenson was one of a clutch of players to be sold in the summer.
The Blackpool-born forward linked up with another former Valiant, Billy Spurdle, by joining Oldham Athletic for a fee of £1,025. However, he only made eight appearances for the Latics before dropping into non-league.
Vale career: 65 games | 19 goals
Vale could also face former Valiant Peter Clarke who joined Oldham in the summer. Other players to appear for both sides include:
- Striker Chris Killen
- Defender Russell Bromage
- Striker Darren Beckford
- Defender Gareth Owen
- Defender Dan Jones
- Forward Stan Smith
- Winger Paul Edwards
- Goalkeeper Mark Grew
- Striker Stewart Littlewood
Did you know…
- Vale’s last home win over Oldham was a 1-0 victory in 2013 with Jack Grimmer the unlikely goalscorer.
- The two sides first met back in 1924.
- Wilf Kirkham (right) scored Vale’s first-ever goal against Oldham during a 3-0 win in April 1924.