Match Preview: Milton Keynes vs Port Vale, November 9th 2019
It’s the first FA Cup clash of the season and hopefully not the last…
Team news
Vale’s main injury doubt would appear to be makeshift left-back Cristian Montano (pictured right) who was injured in the 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra. With Adam Crookes out injured, Vale could turn to Callum Evans if Montano fails to make it. Recent signing Will Atkinson is fit and should return to the squad. Otherwise, Tom Conlon and Manny Oyeleke remain long-term injured.
Stats
The two clubs last met in April this year when it finished in a 1-1 draw at Stadium:MK. Midfielder Tom Conlon (pictured right) scored the opener before the home side’s David Wheeler equalised. In terms of the FA Cup, the clubs have met once in 2014 when it ended in a 4-3 loss for the Valiants. Vale’s recent away form against Milton Keynes is decent with a win and a draw from their last two visits.
The overall record is:
Opposition Guide
Milton Keynes have had something of a poor season, sitting one place below bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon in 21nd place in the table. Poor results cost Paul Tisdale his job with Russell Martin taking charge of his first game on Saturday. Long-serving defender Dean Lewington is still a key member of the defence while former Crewe man Jordan Bowery is a member of the forward line.
Connections
Port Vale forward David Amoo will be returning to a club where he had a spell on loan back in 2011. Amoo made three appearances for the side before returning to his parent club Liverpool. Other players to appear for both clubs in recent years include Chris Lines, Jay O’Shea and Antony Kay.
Pre-match quote
“We’re not expected to win but we know that MK Dons have been struggling, they’ve just had a change of manager so we don’t really know what to expect from them, but we feel as if we’ve got a good chance.
“We need to get back-to-back wins and the F.A Cup could provide us with that. But I think the FA Cup also creates a lot of interest and there is a lot of money to be made in the cup and that could help us…
Port Vale manager John Askey (right)
Memory match
The first competitive game between the two sides was in 2004 when it ended as a Vale victory after a five goal thriller. Milton Keynes took the lead but two goals in three minutes from Steve Brooker and another from Ian Armstrong put Vale 3-1 up on the hour mark, The visitors pulled one back on 74 minutes but it ended 3-2 to Vale.