Port Vale v Oxford Utd preview – Valiants in desperate need of a home win
After that awful performance against Accrington on Friday, Darrell Clarke’s men will be looking to bounce back.
Match Info
Venue: Vale Park stadium
Date: 10th April, 3pm
Competition: League One
Predict the score
Preamble
It’s been an awful run of form for the Valiants and one which puts them in real danger of being sucked into the relegation zone late on. A home win would go a huge way towards allaying those fears.
Pre-match comments
This is where you find out what people are really made of; it is easy when things are going well and I have managed numerous games now and it hasn’t always gone well. We have to regroup and certainly be a hell of a lot better than we were this afternoon. You can see the confidence in the players is draining and it is up to myself and the staff to pick that up and go again on Bank Holiday Monday.
We have to regroup because like I said to the players, actions speak louder than words in these situations, when you are on the run that we are on. I want to see character, mentality and togetherness because it is easy to be together when things are going well. I don’t want any finger pointing, I take the responsibility and we need to make sure we regroup and show that togetherness.
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke
Port Vale team news
There will be at least two changes to the Vale line-up with Oxford loanees Jack Stevens and Matty Taylor unable to face their parent club. In retrospect the resting of Aidan Stone in favour of Stevens in the last game seems odd as Stone would have to return for this fixture anyway. However, Stevens’ dreadful error against Accrington would probably have opened the door for Stone anyhow. It now looks clear that with neither Stevens nor Stone impressing that a new goalkeeper is a key summer priority.
Upfront, either Ellis Harrison or Jamie Proctor is likely to replace Taylor and partner James Wilson. Defenders Lewis Cass and Dan Jones both remain on the sidelines but there may be a switch in the wingback positions with David Worrall set to return, possibly at the expense of Sammy Robinson.
Opposition team news
The visitors appear to have a full bill of health with the only issue being a slight injury doubt to Marcus Browne.
Form guide
It’s now five games without a win for the Valiants while opponents Oxford are on an even worse run – it’s now thirteen games since their last win. A goalless draw anyone?
Port Vale: L-L-D-L-D
Oxford: L-L-D-D-D
Man in charge
Former MK Dons boss Liam Manning was appointed in March after Karl Robinson’s five year spell came to an end. The 37 year-old is yet to record a win as Oxford manager.
Familiar faces
We’ve already mentioned the two players in Vale’s side who have played in Oxford colours. Goalkeeper Jack Stevens joined on loan at the start of the season but recently lost his place in the Valiants goal to Aidan Stone. Stevens has made 75 appearances for United and has recorded 28 games for Vale this season. Striker Matty Taylor has been prolific in Oxford colours having scored over fifty goals since joining the club in 2019. He has two goals in nine starts for the Valiants.
Vintage connections
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 last home win over Oxford came way back in 2012.
Last time we met…
The Valiants suffered a mauling at Oxford earlier this season as they were defeated 4-0. Matty Taylor, now on loan with the Vale, scored twice for the home side. It means Tom Pope is the last Vale player to score against Oxford – his goal coming in a 2017 FA Cup win.
Overall record
11 Port Vale wins
10 draws
14 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 manager?
- What was the score the last time the two teams met?
- In which year were the club formed?
- Which Vale striker scored in the last meeting between the sides?
Answers below (no cheating)…
Quiz answers…
- Liam Manning
- Oxford United 4-0 Port Vale
- 1893
- Matty Taylor (albeit for Oxford)