Lincoln City v Port Vale preview – back to the League for Andy Crosby’s Valiants…
So, after a hat-trick of cup games, it’s back to the grind of the League for Andy Crosby – and there’s an injury crisis to contend with. Here’s our preview…
MATCH PREVIEW
Lincoln City v Port Vale: Saturday November 11th, Sincil Bank stadium, League One, 3pm.
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Andy Crosby spoke to the local press ahead of the game…
PREAMBLE
It’s been three cup games and three different results for the Valiants as they – won in the League Cup, claimed a draw despite playing with ten men in the FA Cup and lost their dead rubber group tie with Wrexham in the Football League Trophy competition.
Vale played a host of youngsters in that last game and despite some bright performances, it’s unlikely that the same group will play in this League game.
TEAM NEWS
Following that Cup game against Wrexham, Andy Crosby said the side was currently without seven players who are injured (and that’s not counting suspended skipper Nathan Smith). Those who could be absent include James Wilson, Conor Grant, Mitch Clark, Alex Iacovitti, Dan Jones and Kofi Balmer. However, one boost for Vale is the return to fitness of Tom Conlon after a long layoff. Uche Ikpeazu was rested for the Wrexham game and could well start upfront.
OPPOSITION
The home side sit in tenth place in League One and ended a run of three games without a win with victory over Notts County in the Football League Trophy group games. 27 year-old Hakeeb Adelakun is the current top scorer with three League goals. Despite their poor recent form, Lincoln boast one of the division’s meanest defences, having conceded just twelve goals from fifteen League games.
MAN IN CHARGE
Tom Shaw is currently the caretaker after the departure of Mark Kennedy in mid-October. The 36 year-old has won three of his six games giving him a win ratio of… (well you do the maths, it’s pretty obvious).
PAST MEETINGS
The two sides first met in 1894 when it finished in a thrilling 4-3 win for Lincoln. It was pretty dramatic on the last occasion the two sides met too. Three players were dismissed – one for the home side and two for the Valiants as Lincoln recovered from 2-1 down to win 3-2. Tom Conlon’s sendng-off for Vale was later rescinded. The game was also the last of Darrell Clarke’s Port Vale reign as he dismissed shortly afterwards.
BRIEF HISTORY
Founded in 1884, Lincoln became founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892. The side yo-yo’ed between the lower divisions before they suffered a double relegation to the Conference in 1987.
They regained their Football League status in 1988. They reached the play-offs in five consecutive seasons, from 2002 to 2007, losing in the final twice and the semi-finals three times, which is a competition record.
However they returned to the Conference in 2011. A six-season stay in non-league was ended when Cowley brothers, Nicky and Danny, led the club to the National League title in 2017, as well as a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. They won the Football League Trophy in 2018 and the League Two title in 2018–19.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Lincoln striker Tyler Walker spent a loan spell with the Valiants in 2017 and also had a previous loan spell with Lincoln before securing a permanent move in the summer. There’s also winger Olamide Shodipo who also had a loan spell with both clubs before joining Lincoln on a permanent basis.
Going a bit further back, striker Roy Chapman served both sides with distinction. The targetman scored 35 goals in 78 Lincoln appearances and had a very similar record at Vale Park – 37 goals in 83 games. He sadly passed away in 1983.
ARCHIVE
These three clippings are all taken from the same game – a 2-1 home defeat for Port Vale during the 1983-84 season. The image is of loanee Kevin Young, John Rudge’s first signing for the club in action during the match.
OVERALL RECORD
33 Port Vale wins
23 draws
34 Port Vale losses
THE QUIZ
Our now traditional match preview quiz. How many will you get. Answers below (no cheating!)…
- Who is the current Lincoln caretaker manager?
- When was the club formed?
- Which two former Vale loanees are at Lincoln City?
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…
PREDICT THE SCORE
GO'ARN THE VALE!
Quiz answers:
- Tom Shaw
- 1884
- Tyler Walker and Olamide Shodipo