Two minute guide to Port Vale v Stevenage
Can Port Vale bounce back from their poor performance at Exeter City? Here’s our brief guide…
Who is your player of the year?
The Port Vale Supporters Club have opened voting for the 2018-19 player of the year. Here at OVF Towers we reckon goalkeeper Scott Brown (right) has a great chance of winning and you can learn how to place your vote through this link.
Meanwhile, loanee Adam Crookes thinks Vale will bounce back from their poor performance at Exeter last weekend while manager John Askey is looking at the bigger picture and says the future of the club needs resolving quickly.
Worrall wants to end on a high
“We’re winning games and when you win football games other things get put to the back. Everyone thinks about winning games and there’s an excitement around the club. We need to finish the season strong and keep that little buzz…”
Port Vale winger David Worrall
“They still have an outside chance of getting into the play-offs and they have been playing well as the results have shown. We still need to get those three points to make sure we’re safe. It would be great to come away Saturday knowing the clubs secure for another season. Playing at home we’re looking forward to it. Our performances have been good of late so hopefully again we can get the crowd going and everyone can enjoy it…”
Port Vale manager John Askey
“We are going into the Easter period now on the front foot after two wins, home and away. Next weekend is huge because everything could change in the league after that weekend. We have to have that mindset going into the Port Vale game and we know it is going to be tough. They always seem to produce something at home, we have to make sure we are on the front foot again and put in the performance that we did today…”
Stevenage player Michael Timlin
Stevenage have a narrow lead historically
There have only been ten meetings between the two sides with Stevenage recording three wins to Port Vale’s two. The two teams first met in the FA Cup in 2009 and their last meeting was earlier this season when it ended in a goalless draw.
The last Vale player to score against Stevenage was Luke Hannant (right) who scored in last season’s 2-2 draw at Vale Park. The Valiants have only lost one of the five games to take part at Vale Park over the years.
Much-travelled Maamria in charge
Dino Maamria was born and raised in Tunisia and is the youngest of seven siblings. He had something of a journeyman career in England including three spells as a player at Stevenage. He was was appointed as manager of League Two side Stevenage on 20 March 2018. His record is a win percentage of just over 37% from 56 games in charge.
Will Conloan take on former club?
Midfielder Tom Conlon has been a regular pick in the Vale midfield this season and will be determined to impress against his former club. The locally-born player initially joined Stevenage on loan in 2014 before a three year stay with the club. He made a total of 71 appearances and scored twice for the club.
Midfielder Michael Tonge has managed a solitary appearance this season and so is highly unlikely to feature against his former club. The veteran spent two seasons at Stevenage making over sixty appearances before being signed by former Vale manager Michael Brown on a two-year deal in 2017. He made 38 appearances last season but has been out of first-team contention under managers Neil Aspin and John Askey.
Other players to appear for both clubs in recent years:
- Striker Tyler Walker had loan spells with both clubs
- Midfielder Anthony Grant had spells with both sides
- Darren Murphy had a brief (75 minute) Vale spell after leaving Stevenage
- Striker Guy Madjo played for both