Oxford Utd v Port Vale preview – will Valiants bounce back after cup exit?
Oxford Utd v Port Vale preview – the Valiants travel to Oxford for their latest League One fixture.
Match Info
Venue: Kassam stadium | Date: 12th November 2022, 3pm | Competition: League One
Predict the score
Pre-match quote
“Oxford have a tremendous squad. They are a very good, possession-based team. There’s a lot of high-calibre players in that squad but obviously we’re there to try and get three points…”
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke
Port Vale team news
Will they be fit to play a part? Much focus will be on the fitness of first-choice forward duo James Wilson and Ellis Harrison. The pair were both left out of the FA Cup defeat to Exeter and many fans will be keen to see them return. In their absence, Dennis Politic at least found the target but should both Wilson and Harrison miss out, it will be a big blow to the Vale.
Elsewhere, Aidan Stone will remain in goal as Jack Stevens is ineligible to face his former club, while the likes of Mal Benning and Danny Butterworth may also come into the starting eleven.
Opposition team news
Unlike the Valiants, Oxford are still in the FA Cup although that was because their tie at Woking was postponed due to the weather. As far as the League goes, Oxford are unbeaten in their last four games although that does include three draws.
Oxford currently have an extensive injury list which was added to when Kyle Joseph was stretchered off in the draw with Shrewsbury. Cameron Brannagan will also be missing after picking up his sixth booking of the season.
Man in charge
Karl Robinson is only 42 but he had already nearing 650 games in charge as a manager. After spells with Charlton Athletic and MK Dons he joined Oxford in 2018 and has a 40% win ratio from 254 matches.
Familiar faces
Jack Stevens won’t be able to play in this game against his parent club. The keeper has impressed during his loan spell at the club and has been a regular starter for the club.
The 25 year-old has progressed through the youth ranks at Oxford to make his senior bow in 2019. So far, he has totalled 75 appearances for his parent club as well as a total of five loan moves including his current spell at Burslem.
Face from the past
Ben Purkiss was appointed club captain during a two year spell with the Valiants. The full-back was signed on a two-year deal in 2015 by Rob Page and he made a total of 71 appearances for the side. Earlier in his career, he played 26 games for Oxford United during a year with the club which included a loan spell at Darlington.
Through the years…
The two sides first met in an FA Cup tie in 1966. After a 2-2 draw, the replay ended in a 3-2 win for the Valiants. The first League meeting took place in 1976 when it finished in a goalless draw. Vale’s recent trips to Oxford have not been happy ones with the last win coming way back in 1996.
Last time we met…
Gavin Gunning and Tom Pope (pictured above) scored in a 2-0 FA Cup victory back in 2017.
Overall record
11 Port Vale wins | 10 draws | 13 Port Vale losses
From the archives
A few photos from a game back in 2012. It finished 2-1 to Oxford United on the day
A brief history of…
Oxford Utd was founded on 27 October 1893 as Headington Football Club. Oxford United adopted its current name in 1960. It joined the Football League in 1962. Two successive promotions led the club into the First Division in 1985 and it won the League Cup in 1986. However, relegation from the top flight in 1988 started an 18-year decline which saw the club relegated to the Conference in 2006. After four seasons, Oxford returned to League Two in 2010 via the play-offs, and six seasons later achieved promotion to League One.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current Oxford Utd manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- In what year did Oxford win the League Cup?
Answers below (no cheating)…
- Karl Robinson
- Port Vale 2-0 Oxford United
- 1893
- 1986