Cambridge Utd v Port Vale match preview – will Valiants bounce back from home loss?
Can Andy Crosby’s men return to winning ways at the weekend when they visit Cambridge on Saturday afternoon? Here’s our match preview.
PREDICT THE SCORE
MATCH PREVIEW
Cambridge Utd v Port Vale: Saturday September 23rd, the Abbey stadium, League One.
Andy Crosby
PREAMBLE
A chastening home defeat to Burton in midweek ended the Valiants’ nine game unbeaten run and you can bet they’ll want to bounce back from that upset.
Away from the pitch, the club have announced a fans forum with manager Andy Crosby and director of football David Flitcroft to be held in the Valiants Suite.
PORT VALE TEAM NEWS
The Valiants will be hoping that striker Ryan Loft and Josh Thomas recover from injury and illness respectively as they do need competition upfront. The Vale’s back three was uncharacteristically leaky in midweek so there’s a chance that Lewis Cass may be recalled on the right. Mitch Clarke may also feature at right wingback. Former captain Tom Conlon remains out injured.
Lewis Cass
Jack Stevens
THE OPPOSITION
Former Port Vale keeper Jack Stevens, a summer signing for Cambridge is unlikely to face the Valiants due to injury, Will Mannion will deputise in goal. Cambridge have lost their last two games – both away – but conversely have won the last two home fixtures. Summer signing Fejiri Okenabirhie is the leading scorer so far with three League goals.
MAN IN CHARGE
Head coach Mark Bonner was caretaker for a two month period before being handed the job on a permanent basis in March 2020. He guided the side to promotion to League One in 2021. He has a win ratio of 40% from 183 games in charge.
FIXTURE LANDMARKS
The first meeting between the two sides was in September 1973 when it ended in a 2-1 win for the Valiants.
The Valiants’ worst defeat wasn’t too long ago. Vale were hammered 5-0 on the final game of the 2017-18 season by a Cambridge side featuring future Valiants Leon Legge and David Amoo.
Vale’s best win came in 2001 when they thumped Cambridge 5-0 at Vale Park. The scorers that day were Micky Cummins, Ian Armstrong, Chris Killen (2) and Steve Brooker.
Micky Cummins
OVERALL RECORD
11 Port Vale wins
2 draws
10 Port Vale losses
The Abbey Stadium
A BRIEF HISTORY
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. They were elected to the Football League in 1970. The side won six promotions in 35 years before being relegated into the National League in 2005. They re-entered the League in 2014 and won promotion to League One in 2021.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
Vintage action from 1991, courtesy of our very own YouTube channel, a match when midfielder Andy Porter scored the winner for the Valiants:
Leon Legge
FAMILIAR FACES
Cambridge keeper Jack Stevens was signed from Oxford United in the summer after a season-long loan spell with the Valiants. There are several other who have featured for both in recent years. The list includes:
- Strapping central defender Leon Legge
- Giant goalkeeper Tomas Holy
- Winger Luke Hannant
- Striker Ben Williamson
- Forward David Amoo
JOIN THE DEBATE
Our dedicated match thread on the forum is the place to go to discuss the match before, during and after the action. View the thoughts of fellow fans and add your comments…
Port Vale fans
Winner or loser?
THE QUIZ
Our now traditional match preview quiz. How many will you get. Answers below (no cheating!)…
- Who is the current Cambridge United manager?
- What was the score when the sides last met?
- When was the club formed?
- When did the two sides first play a competitive match?
- Which former Vale keeper moved to Cambridge in the summer?
GO'ARN THE VALE!
Quiz answers:
- Mark Bonner
- Port Vale 0-2 Cambridge Utd
- 1912
- 1973
- Jack Stevens