Port Vale v Forest Green Rovers preview – can Valiants make it two wins in a row?
Port Vale v Forest Green Rovers preview – it’s a different challenge for the Valiants after their visit to Pride Park, but can they win against Rovers?
Match Info
Venue: Vale Park stadium | Date: 15th Ocober 2022, 3pm | Competition: League One
Predict the score
Pre-match quotes
A win at Derby or a win at home to Forest Green, you get the same amount of points. The occasion might be a bit bigger for the fans, a better day out, but at the end of the season nobody cares where the three points came and who you were against, so long as we end up where we want to. We will analyse where we went wrong here (at Derby), we will try to improve and put it into play against Forest Green…
Port Vale defender Nathan Smith
We watched Forest Green play against Peterborough United on Tuesday and while they have been inconsistent in their results, they beat one of the big boys at home last weekend in Bolton so they’re a good side and have good players, but it is about what we do and we need to try and build on last Saturday’s three points…
Port Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby
It fills you with confidence; when you go away from home – especially against a big side like Derby – and put in a performance the way we did… We can’t get complacent though, we know that Saturday is a massive game and if we get three points that will another boost in where we go in the table – we would rather be looking upwards than downwards…
Port Vale wingback Gavin Massey
Port Vale team news
The Vale starting eleven has been a constantly evolving thing since the start of the season and it’s unlikely this game will prove to be any different. With the Valiants also tight-lipped on injuries so as not to give their opponents any pointers, it’s always a tricky exercise to predict the starting eleven.
Liam McCarron was a half-time substitution on Saturday and so it’s likely Mal Benning, if fit, could come back on the left flank. Dennis Politic continues to push for a starting place and could also come into the equation if Vale opt for more firepower.
However, despite the chopping and changing, it’s likely that the currently settled back three of Smith, Forrester and Jones as well as the front two of Harrison and Wilson, both on target last Saturday, will stay the same.
Funso Ojo, Rory Holden and Jamie Proctor all remain sidelined through injuries.
Opposition team news
Nigerian descent Bryan Fiabema has returned to Chelsea after suffering an injury. Dangerman Connor Wickham also missed the midweek loss to Peterborough United and could be a doubt for the match at Vale Park.
Meet (some of) the squad…
- Experienced striker Jamille Matt is the club captain
- Luke McGhee is the regular goalkeeper
- Midfielder David Davis was a summer signing
- Right-back Corey O’Keefe also joined in the transfer window
Man in charge
After the shock departure of Rob Edwards following promotion to League One, Ian Burchnall was appointed. His record stands at seventeen games with a 35% win ratio.
Familiar faces
There’s no players involved who have played for both clubs but there are plenty of players who have appeared for both in recent seasons. The list includes striker Kurtis Guthrie, released by the Valiants at the end of the season, defender Callum Evans who was signed by former manager John Askey and veteran striker Lee Hughes.
Through the years…
The two sides first met in 2012 in the FA Cup when it finished in a dramatic 3-2 win for the Valiants. The first League meeting took place in September 2017 when it finished in a 1-1 draw. Ashley Vincent was the scorer of the first competitive goal against Forest Green.
Last time we met…
The teams last met at Vale Park where it finished in a 1-1 draw. Ryan Edmondson gave the Valiants the lead with his first goal for the side, before Matt Stevens finished.
Overall record
4 Port Vale wins | 5 draws | 2 Port Vale losses
From the archives
Some photos from our FA Cup game back in 2012:
A brief history of…
Forest Green Rovers was formed in October 1889, the club’s fortunes rocketed when eco entrepreneur Dale Vince bought the club in 2010. They entered the Football League in 2017 and have often hit the headlines for a string of green initiatives. In 2018 Forest Green Rovers became the first football club in the world to be certified carbon neutral by the United Nations. They were promoted to League One last season.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current FGR manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- In what year did they enter the Football League?
Answers below (no cheating)…
- Ian Burchnall
- Port Vale 1-1 Forest Green Rovers
- 1889
- 2017