Morecambe v Port Vale preview – can Valiants build on overdue win?
The Valiants ended a seven match winless streak on Saturday – can they possibly make it back-to-back wins with victory on Tuesday evening?
Match Info
Venue: Globe Arena stadium
Date: 21st February, 7.45pm
Competition: League One
Predict the score
Preamble
Will Forrester’s second-half strike ended Port Vale’s poor recent run and with some key players returning to fitness, optimism will surely be building ahead of this trip. Fortune perhaps favours the Valiants with this rearranged fixture with the home side’s recent good form coming to an end.
Port Vale team news
Starting upfront, recent signing Matty Taylor impressed with some intelligent play and, presuming he’s fit enough to start his second game in a matter of days, is surely favourite to start as the focal point of the attack. The much-maligned Gavin Massey also did well in an unfamiliar position but Darrell Clarke may be tempted to pair Taylor with one of Jamie Proctor or Ellis Harrison to give Vale two recognised forwards upfront.
In midfield, Tom Pett and Funso Ojo provided an effective shield in front of the defence while Ben Garrity had a far greater influence in an advanced role. All will be expected to start on Tuesday. Defensively, the Valiants were much improved with loanee Aaron Donnelly coming out of a poor run of form.
So, it could be one of the rate occasions this season where manager Darrell Clarke only makes the odd change to his starting line-up?
Opposition team news
Midfielder Donald Love is the home side’s only current injury doubt. It’s been 181 minutes since Morecambe last scored – that coming from alleged Vale target Cole Stockton in a 1-1 draw with Forest Green.
Form guide
Phew! That win over Exeter ended a long winless streak for the Valiants. In contrast, the home team’s form has gone downhill in recent games…
Port Vale: L-D-L-L-W
Morecambe: W-L-D-L-L
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 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?
- When did Morecambe reach the Football League?
Answers below (no cheating)…
Quiz answers…
- Derek Adams
- Port Vale 1-0 Morecambe
- 1920
- 2007