Port Vale v Swindon Town preview – glory or the end of the road for Valiants…
Port Vale v Swindon Town preview – there’s everything to play for as the sides meet for their second-leg of their play-off clash. Here’s our preview.
Match details
Details:
Port Vale v Swindon Town (agg 1-2)
League Two, play-off semi-final, second-leg
Vale Park stadium
Thursday May 19th, 2022, 7.45pm
Last time we met?
Two goals from Harry McKirdy saw Swindon edge the first tie but how valuable will James Wilson’s late goal for Vale prove to be?
Overall record:
32 Vale wins, 20 draws and 37 defeats
Valiants team news
It will be interesting to see how the Vale managerial team approach this tie. The Valiants arguably looked at their best when subs Mal Benning, Jake Taylor and Jamie Proctor joined the fray. However, doubts over Proctor’s fitness and the fact this tie could go into extra-time could see him left on the bench for an impact later in the game. However, it’s possible that Jake Taylor may get the nod ahead of Harry Charsley in central midfield. The likes of Chris Hussey, Dan Jones and Brad Walker remain doubts for this game.
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
Swindon are likely to pick the same team that defeated Vale in the first-leg at the County Ground.
Man in charge: Ben Garner
- Age: 41
- Games in charge: 54
- Win ratio: 50%
Appointed in the summer, the former Bristol Rovers manager has expertly guided Swindon into the play-offs despite much publicised financial issues before the season began.
Recent form…
Port Vale
Vale ended that poor run of three straight losses with that vital away win against Exeter which secured a play-off place. They lost the first-leg but will be hoping to overturn their 2-1 loss.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Proctor (13)
The opposition
Swindon reached the play-offs after a run of four straight wins which included a win over then league leaders Forest Green. A win over Vale in the first-leg made it five wins in a row.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
McKirdy (23)
Connections
A lot of attention will land on Harry McKirdy after his double strike in the first-leg. McKirdy’s stay in Burslem was less productive with the winger excluded from the Vale squad at one stage. After just one season at Vale Park, he was released in the summer of 2021.
However, he has completely turned his form around at the County Ground and comes to Vale Park after scoring twenty three times so far this season.
From the archives
Footage of the 1989 play-off semi-final second-leg tie against Preston North End from our YouTube channel:
Potted history
Founded as Swindon AFC in 1879, the club became Spartans the next year, before finally settling on the name Swindon Town in 1883. They were elected into the Football League in 1920 after considerable success in the Southern League. They won the League Cup in 1969 and earned promotion to the top-flight in 1993 although they lasted a solitary season in the Premier League. They won promotion to League Two in 2020 before being relegated back to League Two in 2021.
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 Swindon Town manager?
- When were Swindon Town formed?
- An easy one, which former Vale forward plays for Swindon?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale
- Ben Garner
- 1879
- Harry McKirdy