Exeter City v Port Vale preview – automatic promotion, play-offs or losing out? Vale await final fate
Exeter City v Port Vale preview – automatic promotion looks unlikely but Vale could really do with something at Exeter to keep their promotion hopes alive. Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Exeter City v Port Vale
League Two
St James Park Stadium
Saturday May 7th, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
It finished as a 0-0 draw at Vale Park earlier this season
Overall record:
24 Vale wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats
Valiants team news
The big Port Vale news concerns the bench where we will see the long-awaited return of manager Darrell Clarke. It’s a welcome boost for the team but more importantly, on a personal level, it sees Clarke return from personal tragedy and we’re delighted to see him back. In the meantime, a word of thanks to assistant Andy Crosby, who has done superbly in extremely difficult circumstances.
Ahead of the fixture, Clarke told the media: “Get behind the lads on the final day and let’s see where we end up. Thank you ever so much.”
In terms of team news, James Gibbons marked his return from injury with an appearance off the bench on Monday but Connor Hall remains a doubt after missing the Newport game through injury. Chris Hussey deputised for Hall in the back three during the loss to Newport County. Captain Tom Conlon remains sidelined through injury.
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
Exeter are going for the League Two championship having already secured promotion and have no injury concerns ahead of this game.
Man in charge: Matt Taylor
- Age: 40
- Games in charge: 212
- Win ratio: 44%
Appointed back in 2018, former defender Taylor has guided the club to promotion this season.
Recent form…
Port Vale
Vale’s fine recent form has come apart with three straight defeats. They will be keen to make amends.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Proctor (13)
The opposition
Probably Vale’s toughest test of the season, Exeter have lost just twice at home all season.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Jay (16)
Connections
Veteran defender Aaron Martin could line-up against a club where he made 72 appearances between 2018 and 2020. Martin is now closing on 35 appearances for the Valiants after joining the club in the summer on a two-year deal.
In the opposition ranks is goalkeeper Scott Brown, although he is highly unlikely to face the Valiants. Brown had a successful three year stay in the Potteries making 144 appearances and being named the 2019 player of the year. After departing the club in the summer of 2021 he was named as Exeter’s goalkeeping player-coach.
From the archives
Images from a dramatic draw back in 2018:
Potted history
The club was founded in 1901 and began playing games at St James Park, the same stadium that the side plays at today. After a tour of South America in 1914 to generate awareness of football in the continent, the club became the first side to play a national team from Brazil. The side were invited to join the newly formed Football League Division Three in 1920.
They lost their Football League status at the end of the 2002–03 season. They spent five seasons in the Conference, and recovered from defeat in the 2007 play-off final to win promotion out of the play-offs the next 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 Exeter City manager?
- When were Exeter City formed?
- Which current Port Vale defender used to play for Exeter City?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 1-1 Exeter City
- Matt Taylor
- 1901
- Matt Taylor