Time for some revenge – former Swindon man’s bullish message ahead of Vale cup tie
Former Swindon Town loanee Louis Reed has said it’s “time for some revenge” after his current side Mansfield Town were drawn against the Valiants in the Carabao Cup.
The game will be the first time the two sides have met since the Vale defeated Mansfield 3-0 at Wembley to reach League One through the play-offs.
I lost in the play-offs to Port Vale when I was at Swindon so I think it’s time for some revenge…
The last sixteen tie gives either of the sides a chance to reach the last eight of the cup contest. Mansfield boss Nigel Clough says he was pleased with the draw commenting: “If you get a Premier League club at home then it’s an occasion but you are highly unlikely to win. Get one away you are even less likely to win but you make a few quid. But with this draw we are at home with a chance of getting through.”
Midfielder Louis Reed is also keen to see Mansfield into the last eight but for altogether different reasons. Reed was a member of the Swindon squad which lost to the Valiants in the League Two play-off semi-finals at the end of the 2021-22 season. He added: “Everyone has a bit of making up to do for the play-offs the season before last and I lost in the play-offs to Port Vale when I was at Swindon so I think it’s time for some revenge.”
The second-leg tie was marred by some ungracious comments by then Swindon manager Ben Garner, who among other things, moaned that the Valiants hadn’t watered their pitch to help his side. Prior to the match Swindon skipper Dion Conroy had arrogantly claimed that “We play better football than them, we’re better footballers.” The remarks came back to bite Swindon as they lost out in a dramatic penalty shootout.
It was also a chastening day for the Valiants with the club fined £15,000 by the Football Association for the mass pitch invasion that followed their win.
Many Vale fans contrasted the behaviour of Swindon Town, which included foul mouthed tweets by defender Mathieu Baudry on the day of the play-off final, with the gracious behaviour of the Mansfield Town players, coaching staff and fans after the defeat at Wembley stadium.