Bradford City v Port Vale preview – can the Valiants make it three in a row?
Bradford City v Port Vale preview – the Valiants made it two home wins in a row but can they continue that form on the road? Who will prevail? Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Bradford City v Port Vale
League Two
Valley Parade Stadium
Saturday March 19th, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
James Wilson was on target in a televised game which finished 1-1 at Vale Park
Overall record:
34 Vale wins, 33 draws and 44 defeats.
Valiants team news
Interim Port Vale manager Andy Crosby will surely try and continue with the same starting eleven that beat Mansfield Town but he may be forced into one change. Chris Hussey looked to be in trouble and was replaced for the second game running. Mal Benning came on to make an impressive cameo and he could well come into the starting line-up ahead of Hussey. Two goal hero Kian Harratt is likely to remain on the bench after first choice strike partnership Jamie Proctor and James Wilson looked to be in fine form on Tuesday.
Midfielders Tom Conlon and Jake Taylor along with defenders Dan Jones and James Gibbons all look set to remain on the sidelines.
Key man
James Wilson may have been on the scoresheet on Tuesday but strike partner Jamie Proctor also caught the eye with a performance which highlights his contribution to the team.
Proctor’s ability to hold the ball up is well known but he also impressed with his link-up play including a beautifully weighted pass to set up Kian Harratt for the third goal.
The Valiants are likely to be under more pressure as they face an in-form Bradford at home so Proctor’s performance may prove to be key if Vale are to get anything out of the game.
Opposition team news
Bradford duo Charles Vernam and Tom Elliott are both back in full training but will need to build up their fitness if they are to feature.
Man in charge: Mark Hughes
- Age: 58
- Games in charge: 4
- Win ratio: 50%
One of the more eyebrow raising appointments of the season saw the former Stoke City boss unveiled at Valley Parade.
Recent form…
Port Vale
It’s two wins in a row and just one loss in twelve games for the Valiants as they continue to push for a place in the play-offs.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Garrity (10)
The opposition
New manager Mark Hughes has managed to halt a run of five successive losses with two wins in a row. However, their last home win was back in January.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Cook (11)
Current connections
The Valiants could come up against former forward Theo Robinson who moved to Bradford from Vale back in September 2021. Robinson has failed to nail a regular starting place down for the Bantams but he has netted four times in twenty six appearances for the side During his single season with the Vale, he netted six goals in 37 games for the Valiants, form that prompted much criticism from the terraces.
There’s another former Valiant in the Bradford ranks in goalkeeper Sam Hornby, but as he’s on loan with Colchester United, he won’t be featuring in this game.
Vintage connection
Colourful striker Ron Futcher was an inspired John Rudge signing from Bradford City in 1988. Although Rudge had tried to sign five other strikers, Futcher proved to be a revelation as paired with the youthful Darren Beckford he helped the club to promotion in 1989. The striker 23 goals in 69 before in another inspired piece of business, Rudge sold the 34 year-old for a £25,000 profit to Burnley.
At Bradford, Futcher had a two year spell where he scored 23 times in 53 games.
Other players to appear for both clubs in recent years include Will Atkinson, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Alex Jones and Callum Guy.
From the archives
The Port Vale programme against Bradford City in 1971. It finished in a 1-0 win for the Valiants with Tony Lacey scoring the winner.
Potted history
The club was founded in 1903 and was immediately elected into the Football League. They were promoted into the first division in 1908 and won the FA Cup final in 1911. In 1999 they reached the Premier League where they enjoyed a two year stay.
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 Bradford City manager?
- When were Bradford formed?
- Which current Bradford striker also played for the Valiants?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 1-1 Bradford City
- Mark Hughes
- 1903
- Theo Robinson