Port Vale v Cheltenham Town preview – a reunion with both men eyeing some vital points
Port Vale v Cheltenham Town preview – it’s the return of Darrell Clarke to Vale Park as out of form Port Vale take on strugglers Cheltenham. Here’s our preview…
MATCH PREVIEW
Port Vale v Cheltenham Town: Saturday October 28th, Vale Park stadium, League One
PREAMBLE
A lot of the pre-match talk will revolve around the return of Darrell Clarke to Vale Park. It will be the former manager’s first visit since he was sacked in April and we are confident that he will get a richly deserved ovation from both sets of fans.
Away from the action on the pitch there will be a restricted capacity in the Railway Paddock after the storm damage to the toilet block.
TEAM NEWS
The Valiants have lost several more players due to injury with Kofi Balmer and Mitch Clark the latest players to be sidelined. The pair join the likes of James Wilson, Alex Iacovitti, Conor Grant and Tom Conlon in the treatment room. The loss of Balmer could see Lewis Cass return to the Vale backline.
Striking pair Ryan Loft and Uche Ikpeazu are both gaining match fitness and Crosby may continue his policy of giving both players a half apiece.
OPPOSITION
Visitors Cheltenham have won just one game all season and it took them ten games to get off the mark in the League this season.
They’ve only picked up one point away from home this season – although bizarrely that was at promotion favourites Portsmouth.
Will Goodwin scored twice in their last match (a 3-2 defeat to Blackpool) and that brace propelled him to the top of the Robins scoring charts this season.
MAN IN CHARGE
Darrell Clarke surely needs no introduction to Vale fans after he guided the club to promotion in 2022. Clarke was in charge for 124 games with a 42% win ratio. He joined Cheltenham in September and has managed one win in five games.
PAST MEETINGS
The two sides first met in 2002 when it finished in a 1-0 away victory for the Valiants thanks to a winner from striker Tony Naylor. Will Forrester was the last Vale player to score against the Robins and the last two meetings have ended in draws – an omen perhaps?
BRIEF HISTORY
Cheltenham Town were formed in 1887 but they didn’t reach the Football League until 1999 when they were promoted from the Conference. They were relegated back to the National League in 2015 only to return in 2016.
CONNECTIONS
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way as we’ve already mentioned Darrell Clarke’s return to the Potteries.
However, Cheltenham also have striker George Lloyd who was brought by Clarke on loan to Vale Park during the 2021-22 season.
OVERALL RECORD
7 Port Vale wins
10 draws
8 Port Vale losses
THE QUIZ
Our now traditional match preview quiz. How many will you get. Answers below (no cheating!)…
- Who is the current Cheltenham Town manager?
- Which Robins striker had a previous loan spell with Vale?
- When was the club formed?
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…
GO'ARN THE VALE!
Quiz answers:
- Darrell Clarke (of course)
- George Lloyd
- 1887