Bristol Rovers v Port Vale preview – a reunion for Gibbo and Darrell Clarke?
Bristol Rovers v Port Vale preview – the Valiants could face former defender James Gibbons as they travel to the Memorial Stadium.
Match Info
Venue: Memorial stadium | Date: 10th December 2022, 3pm | Competition: League One
Predict the score
Pre-match press conferences
Port Vale team news
A usual Vale are cagey about who is fit and who isn’t. So, it remains to be seen if striker Ellis Harrison is fit to face his former club. Harrison last featured in the 4-0 thumping by Oxford United, missing the three straight wins that have followed. If Harrison doesn’t make it, Vale could well keep faith with a front three of James Wilson, Gavin Massey and Danny Butterworth.
Funso Ojo and Jamie Proctor look set to remain on the sidelines through injury.
Opposition team news
Bristol Rovers look set to welcome back injured pair Harry Anderson and Paul Coutts, with the two in line to return against Vale. Striker Ryan Loft is also a doubt but could be an outside bet to return.
The club are in a mixed run of form at the moment. In their last ten games they have won four, drawn four and lost two. It includes an FA Cup upset at the Memorial Stadium as they lose to Boreham Wood.
Man in charge
Like him or loathe him, it’s fair to say Joey Barton has done well in his time at Rovers. After guiding the club to a dramatic promotion last season, Rovers have had a decent start to League One life. This will be his hundredth game in charge of the club.
Familiar faces
There’s only one place to start with this one as Vale prepare to face former defender James Gibbons for the first time. We wrote about the potential match-up earlier this week.
However, there’s also a potential reunion for Valiants striker Ellis Harrison, providing he’s fit to play. The striker played for Rovers under Darrell Clarke.
Through the years…
The two sides first met in 1938 when it finished in a 1-0 away victory for the Valiants. Vale also won on their last visit to Bristol in a rather dramatic game. Ben Garrity (pictured) scored twice in a 2-1 win that was somewhat overshadowed by two Rovers players seeing red.
Last time we met…
The Valiants lost 3-1 in front of a bumper crowd towards the end of last season. Jamie Proctor scored the Vale goal.
Overall record
28 Port Vale wins | 19 draws | 22 Port Vale losses
From the archives
Courtesy of our YouTube channel, here’s a dramatic play-off victory for the Valiants:
A brief history of…
The club was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs FC and entered the Bristol & District League as Eastville Rovers in 1892. The club changed its name to Bristol Rovers in 1899. They were admitted to the Football League in 1920. They have won the Watney Cup in 1972, and have been Football League Trophy finalists two times.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current Bristol Rovers manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- In what year did they win the Watney Cup?
Answers below (no cheating)…
- Joey Barton
- Port Vale 1-3 Bristol Rovers
- 1883
- 1972