Port Vale v Bristol Rovers preview – biggest game of the season so far for promotion chasing Vale
Port Vale v Bristol Rovers preview – it goes without saying this is one of the Vale’s biggest games in year as they look to boost their promotion chances. Who will prevail? Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Port Vale v Bristol Rovers
League Two
Vale Park Stadium
Monday April 18th, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
Two goals from Ben Garrity gave Vale an away win against nine men Rovers back in December
Overall record:
28 Vale wins, 19 draws and 21 defeats.
Valiants team news
The Valiants will have a stretched squad for this vital game. Captain Tom Conlon, Tom Pett and James Gibbons are already out and Brad Walker, an important player in recent games, looks unlikely to feature after leaving the Hartlepool game early. Walker’s absence probably means Jake Taylor will start especially after his cross set up Vale’s winner on Friday.
Andy Crosby will also be keeping his fingers crossed that wideman David Worrall is fit to return on the right. If Worrall is ruled out, it will probably mean striker Ryan Edmondson playing out of position on the right 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
Veteran striker Leon Clarke was injured in the warm-up against Salford and will be out for some time.
Man in charge: Joey Barton
- Age: 39
- Games in charge: 67
- Win ratio: 37%
He divides opinion with his actions on and off the pitch but Barton has guided the side into the play-offs after a shaky start to the season
Recent form…
Port Vale
It’s now just one loss in nineteen 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
Rovers formidable form went off the rails a touch with a loss and a draw but a win on Friday helped steady the ship.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Collins (13)
Connection
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.
Clarke has been dealt some horrible personal news this year and we send him and his family our very best wishes. In fact, it would be great to see the manager take to the pitch and receive an ovation from supporters of both sides.
Potted history
The club was founded in 1883 as Black 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.
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 Rovers manager?
- When were Rovers formed?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Bristol Rovers 1-2 Port Vale
- Joey Barton
- 1883