Match Preview: Port Vale v Oldham Athletic, 26th Oct 2019
Can Port Vale build on their away win against Bradford City and gain a home victory over Oldham? Here’s our guide to the weekend’s big match…
Team news
John Askey would surely have been tempted to keep faith with the eleven which did so well against Bradford but David Worrall is suspended so there will be at least one change. Worrall’s absence could see one of two options – keep Cristian Montano at left-back and bring in Rhys Browne upfront. Or bring back Adam Crookes at left-back and move Montano upfront. Elsewhere, Scott Burgess is expected to keep his place in midfield ahead of Will Atkinson, who scored the winner in midweek.
Stats
The last meeting is best forgotten by Valiants as it ended as a heavy 1-4 home defeat back in December. An image of one of the many goals is shown on the right. Ben Whitfield was the scorer of Vale’s consolation goal. It’s four home fixtures since Vale last recorded a home win over Oldham. That win came in 2014 when on loan defender Jack Grimmer scored the winner. The overall record is 32 Port Vale wins, 29 Oldham victories and 19 draws.
Opposition Guide
It is doubtful whether new Oldham boss Dino Maamria will be given a warm welcome by the Vale Park crowd after some controversial tactics when Stevenage boss last season. The Latics top scorer is Christian Missilou with three league goals. Familiar faces can be found in lower league veterans defender David Wheater and midfielder Chris McCann.
Connections
Winger Cristian Montano (pictured right) will come up against a club where he had a controversial end to his spell while Valiants fans will be familiar with veteran Chris Eagles who had a spell at Vale Park in 2016. More on the club connections in our dedicated feature.
Pre-match quote
The boys have been tremendous, but we need to get our minds on Saturday now and it’s important that we back this up with a back to back win…
Port Vale coach Dave Kevan (right)
Memory match
The Valiants won a thrilling encounter back in 2002. Vale took a 2-0 lead through Sean McClare and Steve Brooker only for Matt Appleby and Carlo Corazzin to make it 2-2 with twenty minutes to play.
However, star striker Steve McPhee (pictured right during the away fixture that season) settled things on 80 minutes to make the final score 3-2 to the Valiants. 4,408 witnessed the drama unfold.
Ronnie Gregory
25th October 2019 @ 2:38 pm
Why not ride the hot hand and give Atkinson a shot hoping heroics at Bradford continue?
Port Vale have been stout at home, going undefeated in the last 6 home games in League 2 matches and even though Oldham is coming off a 2-0 midweek win, I don’t see them as competition for the home side.
Prediction 2-1 home win.