Port Vale v Accrington preview – struggling Valiants desperately need to find form and a cutting edge
After that awful performance against Wycombe, Darrell Clarke’s side need to bounce back on Tuesday night.
Match Info
Venue: Vale Park stadium
Date: 7th February, 7.45pm
Competition: League One
Predict the score
Preamble
After a dreadful performance on Saturday, the Valiants need to placate some angry fans with a much better performance. However, with Matt Taylor, Ellis Harrison and James Wilson all expected to miss out – where will the goals come from?
Pre-match comments
It is a tough one to swallow but we just have to go again on Tuesday. That’s probably the best thing about it, we have a Tuesday game so we can try to put things right.
Port Vale wingback David Worrall
Everybody could see how down I was after the game on Saturday (but) there is no point approaching this game in a downbeat manner, you have got to be upbeat. We have to get our own house in order and that means playing with the intensity I know we can, making chances, stopping them at the other end, sticking our chests out and being bold. It’s about representing this club and being proud to represent this club and, for the travelling fans, give them something to cheer about.
Accrington manager John Coleman
I am desperate to get out there tomorrow night. It’s another big game, we dropped down in the table but we are still only one win from getting out of the relegation zone and that’s what we are looking at.
Accrington midfielder Shaun Whalley
Port Vale team news
It will be all eyes on the forward line! The Valiants were desperately short of a cutting edge on Saturday and the big question will be whether any of Jamie Proctor, Matt Taylor, Ellis Harrison and (less likely) James Wilson will feature? If not, the forward line will have to come from the less threatening ranks of Mipu Odubeko, Dan Butterworth, Dennis Politic and Gavin Massey.
It’s upfront where all Vale’s injury problems lie. Dan Jones and Tom Conlon both returned from injury on Saturday and are both in contention to play in this one.
Opposition team news
Defender Doug Tharme was stretchered off with a head injury at the weekend but is improving while Accrington are also monitoring Ryan Astley’s ankle injury. Harry Perritt sits out his one game suspension following his dismissal on Saturday.
Form guide
It’s the clash of two badly out-of-form sides on Tuesday evening. Accrington’s last away win came back in November while Vale’s last home win came back on Boxing Day.
Port Vale: W-L-L-D-L
Accrington: W-L-D-L-L
Man in charge
Long-serving John Coleman is in his second spell as Accrington manager having rejoined the side in 2014. He was previously in charge for thirteen years from 1999 to 2012. Coleman has now been in charge for a frankly mind-blowing 1,034 games with a 40% win ratio. It’s a highly impressive record.
Familiar faces
Defender Mitch Clark will need little introduction to Vale fans after spending three loan spells with the Valiants. Clark made a total of 106 appearances for the club. The former Aston Villa full-back joined Accrington in 2021 and has now made 27 appearances for the club.
Vintage connections
Scott Brown, no, not that one, the midfielder, has made appearances for both sides. The midfielder first joined Vale on loan from Cheltenham Town in 2008. The move was then made permanent by Vale manager Dean Glover in 2009. He was released at the end of the 2009-2010 season having made 18 appearances and scoring once.
It wasn’t until 2016 that the then 31 year-old Brown joined Accrington. His spell there was arguably much more enjoyable than that at Vale Park as he made 106 appearances and celebrated promotion to League One in 2018.
Brown is pictured signing for Harrogate Town.
Through the years…
The two sides first met way back in 1929 when it finished in a 5-2 win for the Valiants. However, after a game in 1959 it would be nearly fifty years before the sides would meet again – that game coming in 2008. The Valiants have a decent recent record against Accrington having won five of the last six League and Cup meetings at Vale Park.
Last time we met…
The Valiants enjoyed a thumping FA Cup win as James Wilson scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 first round win. The other Vale goalscorers were Lewis Cass and George Lloyd while Colby Bishop was sent-off for the visitors.
Overall record
13 Port Vale wins
5 draws
8 Port Vale losses
From the archives
Vale fans pack the terrace at Accrington…
A brief history of…
The current club was formed in 1968, two years after the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley, which played in the Football League from 1921 to 1962. The club win three promotions over the course of seven seasons under the stewardship of John Coleman to gain a place in the Football League in 2006.
Were you paying attention?
Our traditional quiz…
- Who is the current Accrington manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- Which former Vale loan defender is in the Accrington squad?
Answers below (no cheating)…
Quiz answers…
- John Coleman
- Port Vale 5-1 Accrington Stanley
- 1968
- Mitch Clark
