Shrewsbury Town v Port Vale preview – expect mass changes as the two teams meet again in Trophy clash
Shrewsbury Town v Port Vale preview – it’s the second meeting in four days as the two sides do battle in the Football League Trophy…
Match Info
Venue: New Meadow stadium | Date: 20th September 2022, 7pm | Competition: Football League trophy group stages
Predict the score
Standings
The Valiants stand joint-top after they defeated Stockport County 1-0 earlier this season. Here’s how the group table looks:
Pre-match quotes
I can’t really think about Tuesday to be honest at the moment, I have to get over the disappointment of this one. But we will be changing the team around again because we need to. We will have a look at the young boys that are available from their game today and how their fitness levels are. But we will be changing the team around for Tuesday…
Shrewsbury Town manager Steve Cotterill
Port Vale team news
We’re expecting plenty of changes for this game so here’s a position-by-position guide:
Goalkeeper – we expect Aidan Stone to get the nod with Jack Stevens rested
Defenders – Lewis Cass looks most likely to be rested with Will Forrester most likely to be drafted in. Connor Hall could also get a place on the left and the Vale could even draft in Derek Agyakwa, on loan at Chorley as loaned out players are eligible to play.
Midfielders – Harry Charsley and Tommy McDermott both look to be strong candidates to play. Much depends on the fitness of Tom Conlon and Brad Walker as to whether they feature, if not, it’s likely Tom Pett will get some match minutes.
Wingbacks – Vale have some selection choices here. Sam Robinson could step in on the right (or possibly David Worrall) while Thierry Small or perhaps loanee Liam McCarron could come in on the left.
Forwards – there’s likely to be a start for Mipo Odubeko and perhaps even Dennis Politic although James Plant, Liam McCarron and Dan Butterworth could also come into the equation. James Wilson is unlikely to be risked.
Opposition team news
Subs Ryan Bowman and Rob Street may both feature upfront for the home side after they came off the bench on Saturday.
Meet the squad…
- The club captain is 29 year-old defender Luke Leahy
- Goals have been hard for the Shrews with top-scorer the two goal defender Matthew Pennington
- The club boasts five loanees Taylor Moore (Bristol City), Carl Winchester (Sunderland), Rob Street (Crystal Palace), Christian Saydee (Bournemouth) and Julian Dacosta (Coventry)
Man in charge
The well-travelled Steve Cotterill took over in November 2020. Cotterill has a win ratio of 32% with Shrewsbury and has managed over 750 games in a career that has taken in spells at Stoke City, Bristol City and Cheltenham Town.
Familiar faces
The Valiants have a former Shrewsbury player in their ranks in Brad Walker. The midfielder made fifty appearances for the side, scoring four times during a three year spell. He left the club in the summer of 2021 to join the Valiants where he has now made 41 appearances, scoring once.
In the Shrewsbury ranks is former Port Vale loanee Rekeil Pyke. The then Huddersfield Town striker had a largely uneventful loan spell with the Valiants in 2017 when he made nine appearances and failed to score. He moved to Shrewsbury in 202o and now has three goals from forty appearances.
Face from the past
Promotion-winning goalkeeper Chris Neal made almost 150 appearances for the Valiants. He joined the Vale in 2012 after a three year spell with Shrewsbury Town.
Through the years…
The two sides first met in 1958 when it ended in a 2-0 away defeat to the Valiants. However, things have been better at Vale Park in recent years with Vale losing just once in their last seven home fixtures.
The two sides met in the Football League Trophy in 2019 when Vale won 2-1 thanks to goals from David Amoo and Jordan Archer. There have been four meetings in the competition with Vale winning one, one draw and two defeats.
Last time we met…
The Valiants recorded a 2-1 home victory at the weekend thanks to two goals from striker Ellis Harrison
Overall record
18 Port Vale wins | 18 draws | 20 Port Vale losses
From the archives
In this feature, we leaf through the pages of a 1968 FA Cup programme and a rare goalkeeping appearance for a player who would find fame elsewhere…
READ IT HEREA brief history of…
The club was founded in 1886 and after a period in non-league they joined the Football League in 1950. They suffered relegation out of the League in 2003 only to regain it in 2004. The club has reached the semi-finals of the Football League cup as well as winning the Welsh Cup on six occasions.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current Shrewsbury manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- In what year did they return to the Football League?
Answers below (no cheating)…
- Steve Cotterill
- Port Vale 2-1 Shrewsbury
- 1886
- 2004