Port Vale v Leyton Orient preview – can Darrell Clarke’s side overcome high flying O’s?
Port Vale v Leyton Orient preview: it’s been a good run for the Valiants – will it continue at home against Leyton Orient? Here ‘s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Port Vale v Leyton Orient, League Two
Where:
Vale Park stadium
When:
Saturday 2nd October, 3pm
Last time we met?
The two sides last met in February when it ended in a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road. David Worrall scored the Vale goal. The home fixture took place in November and ended in an agonising 3-2 loss for the Valiants. That loss was Vale’s first defeat against Orient in the last three home fixtures.
Overall record:
34 Vale wins, 10 draws and 19 defeats.
Valiants team news
Same again? It could well be the same starting eleven for the Valiants after their good run was extended with a win away at Scunthorpe. On-loan forward Dennis Politic pushed his case with a good performance in a midweek friendly but it’s probably not going to be enough to get a starting place.
It’s certainly a selection headache which Darrell Clarke will welcome as the likes of Politic, Jake Taylor and David Amoo all try and force their way into the starting eleven.
Missing will be suspended forward Devante Rodney, serving the final game of his three match ban plus injured Leon Legge, Brad Walker and Aaron Martin.
Opposition team news
Leyton Orient will be without suspended right-back Tom James with Craig Clay expected to stand in.
One to watch:
Former Macclesfield Town striker Harry Smith has been in terrific form this season with six goals in six League starts.
Man in charge: Kenny Jackett
- Age: 59
- Appointed: May 2021
- Games in charge: 11
- Win ratio: 55%
Season so far…
Port Vale
It was a disappointing start as they lost 1-0 to Northampton Town. In their second match, Vale were held at home by Tranmere Rovers. After two goalless games the Valiants finally scored in the League Cup but lost 2-1 to Sunderland. In their third League game they were held 0-0 by Carlisle Utd at Vale Park and they picked up yet another draw with a 1-1 result at Stevenage.
The winless streak was ended with a fine 2-0 away win against leaders Forest Green Rovers. In the Football League Trophy, Vale lost an entertaining 3-2 game with Bolton. They then lost at home to Rochdale, won away at Swindon, broke their home duck with a win over Harrogate and won at Scunthorpe to make it three wins in a row.
The opposition
It’s been a great start for the visitors with just one defeat from their opening nine League Two games. That loss came at the hands of Harrogate Town.
The O’s are on an unbeaten run of five games. Their last match was a 0-0 home draw with Mansfield Town while their last away game saw them triumph 3-1 at Bristol Rovers. Orient are currently second in the League Two table.
Connections
The last player to make appearances for both sides was defender Shaun Brisley. The centre-half was released by Vale in the summer and is now playing for National League side Wrexham. Brisley had a loan spell with Leyton Orient in 2016 where he made sixteen appearances. He spent two years at Vale Park making 43 appearances and scoring two goals.
Other players to appear for both clubs in recent seasons include: midfielder Anthony Griffith, forward Calvin Andrew and defender Clayton Fortune.
Vintage connection
Defender Dean Smith spent six years with Leyton Orient between 1997 and 2003. The centre-half made 309 appearances and scored 43 goals. He moved on to Sheffield Wednesday in 2002 before ending his playing career with a single season at Vale Park. Smith, then 33, made 14 appearances before leaving to take up a coaching position with Orient. Smith had made over seven hundred appearances when he ended his playing career.
He has now forged a formidable managerial career winning the Football League Trophy with Walsall and taking Aston Villa into the Premier League. At time of writing, he has been in charge of Villa for three years.
From the archives
This image is from Port Vale’s famous Iron Curtain season of 1953-54. The Valiants had enjoyed a superb FA Cup run and faced Leyton Orient in the sixth round.
This feature shows Port Vale’s winning goal, scored by Albert Leake – a strike which took Port Vale into the FA Cup semi-finals for the very first time.
More on that Iron Curtain season here
Potted history
Founded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club, the football club, called the Orient was created in 1888. they changed their name to Clapton Orient in 1898 and joined the Football League in 1905. The club changed its name to Leyton Orient after World War Two and apart from a 21 period of being called Orient FC in the 60’s and 70’s it has remained Leyton Orient since. A controversial reign by Francesco Becchetti saw the club drop out of the League after 112 years in 217 but they managed to regain their League status in 2019.
Were you paying attention?
Here’s a quick quiz on the opponents:
- What was the score at Vale Park last season?
- Who is the current Leyton Orient manager?
- What name did the club have when they first entered the Football League?
- At what stage of the FA Cup did the sides meet in 1954?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 2-3 Leyton Orient
- Kenny Jackett
- Clapton Orient
- Sixth round