Port Vale v Forest Green Rovers preview – can Valiants upset the League leaders?

Port Vale v Forest Green Rovers preview – how will the Valiants fare at home against the divisional leaders? We preview the action…

Match details?

Details: Port Vale v Forest Green Rovers, League Two

Where and when: Vale Park stadium, 1st February 2022, 7.45pm

What happened last time we played them?

Jamie Proctor scored twice as the Valiants netted an excellent away win earlier this season.

What’s the Port Vale team news?

It’s likely to be a similar line-up to the team which defeated Scunthorpe United on Saturday which will mean a second start for Tomas Holy in goal. The main question seems to concern the forward line-up. James Wilson was forced off with cramp and Ryan Edmondson impressed with his energy as a sub. The injured list includes captain Tom Conlon, striker Jamie Proctor, midfielder Jake Taylor and defender James Gibbons. The Valiants also added defender Sammy Johnson on deadline day but it is unclear if he is cleared to feature in this game.

What about the opponents?

Forest Green moved ten points clear at the top of the table after thrashing promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers 4-0 away. Since ending 2021 with a bizarre 5-5 draw against Oldham, Rovers have gone on to win four of their January fixtures while recording a 12-1 aggregate scoreline in their favour,

Any Vale connections?

There’s no players involved who have played for both clubs but there are plenty of players who have appeared for both in recent seasons. The list includes striker Kurtis Guthrie, released by the Valiants at the end of the season, defender Callum Evans who was signed by former manager John Askey and veteran striker Lee Hughes.

Potted history

Formed in October 1889, the club’s fortunes rocketed when eco entrepreneur Dale Vince bought the club in 2010. They entered the Football League in 2017 and have often hit the headlines for a string of green initiatives. In 2018 Forest Green Rovers became the first football club in the world to be certified carbon neutral by the United Nations. They have been pushing for a place in League One in recent years, missing out in the play-offs in both 2019 and 2021.

From the archives…

Some photos from our FA Cup game back in 2012:

Were you paying attention?

A quick quiz on the opponents – answers at the bottom of the page…

1. What was the score when the sides last met?
2. Who is the current FGR manager?
3. Who is the record FGR sale?
4. In which year were the club formed?

Quiz answers below:

1. FGR 0-2 Port Vale
2. Rob Edwards
3. Christian Doidge
4. 1889