Morecambe v Port Vale preview – can Valiants bounce back from Posh defeat?
Morecambe v Port Vale preview – after their poor performance in front of the TV cameras, can the Valiants bounce back when they travel to the North West?
Predict the score
Preamble
After a lengthy break, the Valiants didn’t exactly impress on telly and probably weren’t helped by the absence of first-choice strike duo James Wilson and Ellis Harrison. Both will probably miss this tie too so can Vale bounce back without them?
Make a weekend of it?
A friendly Morecambe guesthouse has contacted us to let us know that they have room available if any Vale fans are planning to stay the weekend. Details are below:
Pre-match comments
We are disappointed that we haven’t come away with something from the game (against Peterborough) and that shows how far we have come, but we want to move on to Saturday and put it to bed. We have bounced back really well this season and last season and I am sure we will do it again.
Port Vale captain Tom Pett
Morale in the squad has never been a real problem, but with these three wins we’ve had now, it’s boosted us even more and hopefully we can keep going. It was disappointing that the match last weekend was called off, as we know we were in good form heading into it, but that’s football and these things happen. We’ll work hard down on the training ground this week and prepare the right way before the weekend.
Morecambe defender Ryan Cooney
Port Vale team news
It looks like Vale will have to go into this match with first-choice strikeforce James Wilson and Ellis Harrison on the sidelines. The front three of Butterworth, Odubeko and Massey didn’t impress on Monday night so will Vale make changes upfront? Two options are to bring in Dennis Politic and Rory Holden.
Midfielder Tom Conlon is also a doubt for this game after he missed Monday’s game. Ben Garrity and Tom Pett started in Conlon’s absence but summer signing Funso Ojo is pushing for a start as well.
Opposition team news
Morecambe have been dealt a significant blow with the news that loanee Kieran Phillips has returned to parent club Huddersfield Town after receiving a long-term injury. Phillips had scored seven goals this season. However, Cole Stockton, subject of much transfer speculation is expected to be fit and available for selection. Meanwhile, defender Anthony O’Connor has left the club to join League Two side Harrogate Town while the club have signed striker Michael Mellon on loan from Burnley.
Form guide
Vale’s form is looking distinctly patchy with three losses and two wins in their last five games. However, they won at Forest Green on their last away outing.
Home side Morecambe’s form has picked right up with three straight wins – all of them at home.
Man in charge
Derek Adams was once mentioned as one of the names in the frame when Vale were looking to replace John Askey. He’s now back in his second spell as Morecambe manager. Appointed in February, his win ratio during his second spell is 19%
Image: Derek Adams at Bradford City AFC, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Familiar faces
Former Valiants midfielder Jake Taylor won’t be facing his former teammates as he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The former Nottingham Forest youngster played 56 times for Vale netting nine goals before he moved to Morecambe during the summer. He had made 18 appearances without scoring before picking up the injury.
Vintage connection
Forward Anton Forrester had brief spells with both clubs. The striker joined Morecambe on loan from Blackburn Rovers in 2015 making three appearances without scoring. He then joined Vale after a successful trial in 2016. He made 41 appearances for the Valiants, scoring five times before being released in 2018. He last played for non-league Radcliffe in 2020.
Through the years…
The two sides first met in a 2007 Football League Trophy game which finished in shootout win for Morecambe. The somewhat unlikely scorer of Vale’s first-ever goal against Morecambe is defender Justin Miller with Luke Rodgers (pictured) scoring Vale’s second as it finished 2-2 in normal time.
Last time we met…
The Valiants triumphed at home earlier this season, winning 1-0 thanks to a strike from summer signing Gavin Massey.
From the archives
Images from a 2019 encounter at Vale Park…
A brief history of…
Morecambe FC was founded in 1920. They reached the Conference in 1995. Having been beaten in the 2003 and 2006 play-off semi-finals, Sammy McIlroy led the club to promotion into the Football League with victory in the 2007 play-off Final. In 2021 they reached the 2021 League Two play-off Final and achieved a first promotion to League One.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current Morecambe manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- How many Morecambe appearances did Anton Forrester make?
Answers below (no cheating)…
Quiz answers…
- Derek Adams
- Port Vale 1-0 Morecambe
- 1920
- Three