Stevenage v Port Vale preview – can Vale pick up their first away win?
Stevenage v Port Vale preview: It’s the second away League game at Vale Park for the Valiants and their fans. We preview the action…
Match details?
Details: Stevenage v Port Vale, League Two
Where and when: Lamex stadium, Saturday 21st August, 3pm
TICKET INFO FROM PORT VALE HERE PORT VALE FIXTURES LEAGUE TWO TABLE PORT VALE SQUAD PROFILESWhat happened last time we played them?
The last game between the two ended in a goalless draw at Vale Park in February this year.
However, our last game at Stevenage ended in a 2-1 defeat despite an 80th minute strike by forward Devante Rodney.
The Vale’s previous visit to Stevenage was in January 2020 when a Tom Pope penalty late on proved to be the winner.
Overall, the Valiants have a reasonable record at Stevenage having lost three times in seven fixtures.
What’s our overall record?
Vale are currently trailing in the overall stats
- 3 Port Vale wins
- 5 losses
- 7 draws
What’s the Port Vale team news?
A lot of attention will be on captain, playmaker and Stevenage old-boy Tom Conlon as the indications are that he will be fit to return for this game. Conlon’s creativity and goalthreat has been sorely missed in the Vale midfield. Elsewhere, it all depends on what formation Darrell Clarke opts for.
Will David Worrall be employed as wingback or further up the field?
Will it be a back three or back four?
Who starts upfront?
These are all questions which it’s tricky to answer.
Vale’s season so far…
It was a disappointing start of the season for the Valiants as they lost 1-0 to Northampton Town. It was only compounded by Lucas Covolan’s red card on his full debut. In their second match, the Valiants were held at home by Tranmere Rovers. The Valiants haven’t scored in the League yet but they did manage to in the League Cup where they lost 2-1 to Sunderland. In their third League game they were held 0-0 by Carlisle Utd at Vale Park.
What about the opponents?
Stevenage’s bright start came to an abrupt end in midweek when they lost 4-1 to Bradford City. Prior to that game, they had started their season with a 1-0 win over Barrow and a 2-0 away win over Bristol Rovers.
Additions over the summer include Welsh winger Jake Taylor, goalkeeper Joseph Anang (on loan from West Ham) and former Mansfield forward Jamie Reid.
The side is anchored with an experienced spine of midfielder Chris Lines, forward Luke Norris and defenders Luke Prosser and Ben Coker.
Man in charge: Alex Revell
Age: 46
Clubs managed: Stevenage
Appointed: February 2020
Games in charge: 59
Win ratio: 29%
Any Vale connections?
Oh yes, there’s plenty of those.
On the Vale side, captain Tom Conlon spent three years with Stevenage making 71 appearances and scoring twice. There’s also Tom Pett, who spent two spells with Stevenage making just shy of two hundred appearances.
In the Stevenage ranks are two veterans with Vale experience. 35 year-old Chris Lines is still going strong in the Stevenage midfield. The veteran spent two years at Vale Park making 71 appearances and scoring four goals. There’s also defender Luke Prosser, now 33. Prosser progressed through the Vale youth ranks and made 36 appearances for the Valiants.
Vintage Vale Connection
Defensive midfielder Anthony Grant had successful spells with both clubs. After beginning his career with Chelsea, Grant joined Stevenage in 2012 and made 45 appearances for the club before leaving to join Crewe Alexandra. Grant was signed from Crewe by the Valiants in 2015 and spent two years in Burslem making 69 appearances and being named as the club’s player of the year in 2016. Still going strong, Grant is currently playing for Swindon Town.
Potted history
Stevenage Borough were founded in 1976 following the demise of the town’s former club. They reached the Conference in 1994 but were denied promotion in 1996 after failing to meet ground requirements.
However, the club did eventually win promotion in 2010. After promotion, the club dropped “Borough” from their name and won promotion to League One in 2011 before being relegated back to League Two in 2014.
Quick stats
- Most appearances: Ronnie Henry (502)
- Most goals: Martin Gittings (217)
- Record win: 11-1 vs British Timken Athletic (1980)
- Record loss: 0-8 vs Charlton Athletic (2018)
From the archives…
A view of Tom Pope’s penalty in 2020:
Were you paying attention?
A quick quiz on the opponents – answers at the bottom of the page…
- Name the two former Valiants in the Stevenage squad?
- Who scored the winner for Vale at Stevenage in 2020?
- Who is the current Stevenage manager?
- In which year did the club enter the Football League?
Quiz answers below:
- Chris Lines and Luke Prosser
- Someone called Tom Pope
- Alex Revell
- 20140