Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale preview – Crosby set to take charge as Vale face tough test
Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale preview: it looks to be a tough test for the Valiants as they travel to Prenton Park. Who will prevail? Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale
League Two
Prenton Park
Saturday February 19th, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
It finished in a goalless draw at Vale Park in our first home League game back in August.
Vale’s last win at Tranmere was back in 2013 when a fabulous Chris Lines’ free-kick gave us a 1-0 victory.
Overall record:
31 Vale wins, 25 draws and 41 defeats.
Pre-match press conferences
Away from the game…
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Valiants team news
We all wish Darrell Clarke all the very best as he takes bereavement leave. Clarke’s absent means that assistant Andy Crosby is set to take charge of first-team duties this weekend. Crosby’s main decisions would appear to be whether to stick or twist following the goalless draw with Northampton Town.
The game had few chances so if changes are made, then they could be attacking ones. The main decision would appear to be whether Jamie Proctor is fit enough to start. If Crosby wants more options he could also opt to play Brad Walker in the back three and utilise his passing skills, which in turn could open a space in the midfield for Harry Charsley.
Opposition team news
Rovers could be without two key players for this game with top-scorer Paul Glatzel missing for the next few weeks while influential midfielder Jay Spearing remains sidelined too. Tranmere boast a pair of former Valiants in defender Peter Clarke and midfielder Sam Foley.
Man in charge: Micky Mellon
- Age: 49
- Games in charge: 39
- Win ratio: 51%
The former Rovers midfielder was appointed for a second spell in June. He has experience of managing over 600 games including spells in charge of Fleetwood and Shrewsbury Town.
Recent form…
Port Vale
It may have been a drab draw on Saturday but the result does extend the Valiants unbeaten run to five games. Vale are unbeaten in their last two away games – against Orient and Carlisle.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Wilson (8)
The opposition
A good run of form at the start of the year has been disrupted by two straight defeats in Rovers’ last two games. However, they have lost at home just once in the last six fixtures.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Glatzel (6)
Current connection: Sam Foley
12 Tranmere appearances / 3 goals
83 Port Vale appearances / 7 goals
The former Valiants midfielder Sam Foley has made an excellent start to his Rovers career with three goals since joining the club in the summer.
Now aged 35 years of age, Foley had a two year spell in Burslem after joining in the summer of 2015. A consistent performer, Foley managed seven goals in 83 Vale appearances.
There’s also a member of the Vale squad with a Tranmere connection. Forward David Amoo spent a year at Tranmere in 2012.
Meanwhile, there’s a third connection with veteran Peter Clarke expected to line up in the Rovers defence.
From the archives
We take a look through the pages of a Port Vale matchday programme from the eighties which features the visit of Tranmere Rovers.
Potted history
Tranmere were founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club, before they adopted their current name in 1885. The club moved to its current home, Prenton Park, in 1912 and joined the Football League in 1921.
The 1990s would prove to be the most successful period in the club’s history as Tranmere remained in the second tier, and came close to reaching the Premier League with three consecutive play-off campaigns at the start of the decade
Quick stats
- Most appearances: Ray Mathias (637)
- Most goals: Ian Muir (180)
- Record buy: £495,000 for Shaun Teale
- Record sale: £4.4m for Steve Simonsen
Were you paying attention?
Here’s a quick quiz on the opponents:
- What was the score the last time the two sides met?
- Who is the current Tranmere manager?
- When were Tranmere Rovers formed?
- Which current Vale player has also played for the opposition?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 0-0 Tranmere Rovers
- Micky Mellon
- 1884
- David Amoo