Hartlepool Utd v Port Vale preview – another crucial game for Vale’s promotion push
Hartlepool Utd v Port Vale preview – the Valiants will be hoping to beat mid-table Hartlepool United and boost their promotion hopes. Who will prevail? Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Hartlepool Utd v Port Vale
League Two
Victoria Park Stadium
Friday April 15th, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
It finished in a 2-0 win for the Valiants thanks to goals from Ben Garrity and Tom Pett.
Overall record:
20 Vale wins, 12 draws and 18 defeats.
Valiants team news
The Valiants would probably line-up unchanged if they could and would probably only change things if David Worrall is deemed not fit enough to play. Worrall limped out early and his absence on the right did cause Vale some problems with Ryan Edmondson and Mal Benning both patrolling the right flank at times.
Who may come into the side may depend on fitness. If Worrall isn’t fit, it may mean a change in formation and Vale switching to a back four with Nathan Smith moving to the right. However, the 3-5-2 formation has been highly effective in recent weeks so a more radical solution if Worrall is absence could be to play a player out of position on the right – that could be Mal Benning or (if Tom Pett or Jake Taylor are fit) switching Ben Garrity to the flank.
Bin the boos – back the boys
OVF recently published this appeal for supporters to get behind the team as the Valiants approach the crucial final stages of the season.
Opposition team news
Top scorer Luke Molyneux remains a doubt for this game as he recovers from injury.
Man in charge: Graeme Lee
- Age: 43
- Games in charge: 28
- Win ratio: 36%
The former Middlesbrough coach was appointed in December to replace the departed Dave Challinor.
Recent form…
Port Vale
It’s now just one loss in eighteen for the Valiants with their recent form cementing their place in the automatic promotion spots.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Proctor (12)
The opposition
United cemented their place in League Two next season with a creditable draw against League leaders Forest Green.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Molyneux (8)
Current connections
Last week’s match winner Brad Walker started his professional career with Hartlepool United. Walker made 123 appearances, scoring ten times before earning a move to Crewe Alex. Spells at Wrexham (loan) and Shrewsbury Town ensued before he made the move to Vale Park this summer as manager Darrell Clarke’s first summer signing.
Valiants defender Dan Jones also started his career with Hartlepool. Jones made 41 appearances for the club before moving on to Grimsby. He also made the move to the Valiants in the summer.
Vintage connections
There have been a host of recent connections between the two sides. Striker Mark Cullen played against the Valiants earlier in the season before he moved on to AFC Fylde. Striker Devante Rodney had a successful spell at Hartlepool Utd before joining the Vale. Loanee Lewis Cass, whose loan spell was sadly cut short by injury also had a successful spell with Hartlepool as they won promotion to the Football League. There’s also defender Ryan Johnson who is now at Stockport County but who had spells with both sides.
Potted history
The club were founded in 1908 as Hartlepools United Football Athletic Company. The club, now named Hartlepools United were elected into the Football League in 1921. In 1968, the s and the United of the club’s name was removed due to the formation of the new borough of Hartlepool. Hartlepool have played home games at Victoria Park throughout their history. They went out of the League in 2017 but returned this year.
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 Hartlepool manager?
- When were Hartlepool formed?
- Which two current Vale players started their careers at Hartlepool?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 2-0 Hartlepool Utd
- Graeme Lee
- 1908
- Dan Jones and Brad Walker