Bristol Rovers v Port Vale preview – can injury-hit Valiants prevail at Clarke’s former club?

Details:

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale, League Two

Memorial stadium

Tuesday 7th December, 7.45pm

Last time we met?

The two sides last met in the Football League Trophy in 2019 when it finished 3-0 to Rovers. The last time they met in the League was in 2017 when it finished 1-1 at Vale Park.

Overall record:

27 Vale wins, 19 draws and 21 defeats.

Port Vale’s well documented injury problems upfront continued at the weekend as David Amoo appeared to go off with a hamstring. Sub Dennis Politic was, by his own admission, only 75% fit so it leaves Devante Rodney as the club’s only fit forward. Joint top-scorers Jamie Proctor and James Wilson are both out long-term as is loanee George Lloyd, who was ruled out for three months while even youth team forwards Eden Bailey and Kamani McFarlane are currently injured. The situation is so bad that Darrell Clarke has suggested that Vale may have to start some games without a recognised forward.

Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see who starts in goal after youngster Aidan Stone was preferred to Lucas Covolan in the FA Cup game against Burton Albion.

Jake Taylor and Alex Hurst look set to remain on the sidelines as they recover from injuries.

Man in charge: Joey Barton

• Age: 39
• Games in charge: 44
• Win ratio: 27%

You may not have heard of the shy and retiring former Fleetwood manager. Barton joined Rovers in February.

The opposition

Rovers also reached the third round after a 2-1 win over Sutton, a result which ended a run of four games without a victory.

Form (all competitions) :

Top scorer (all competitions):

Nicholson (5)

We really need to look no further than manager Darrell Clarke, who is still regarded with affection by many Bristol Rovers supporters. Clarke took over as manager in 2014 and was famously moved to tears when he was unable to prevent the side being relegated out of the Football League. In a move familiar to Vale fans, he range the changes in the summer, releasing sixteen players and signing thirteen new additions. He then led the club to promotion in the 2015 play-off final and followed that up with promotion to League One in 2016.

He joined the Valiants in February and currently has a highly impressive 47% win ratio.

The club was founded in 1883 as White Arabs FC and entered the Bristol & District League as Eastville Rovers in 1892. The club changed its name to Bristol Rovers in 1899. They were admitted to the Football League in 1920. They have won the Watney Cup in 1972, and have been Football League Trophy finalists two times.

Quiz answers (no cheating):

1. Joey Barton
2. 1883
3. 1920
4. 2014