Port Vale v Portsmouth preview – long wait could be over as Vale face Pompey test
Fingers crossed that this one goes ahead. After pitch issues – of the invasion and frozen kind – Vale will desperate to get back to action and will include several new faces in their side. Here’s our preview…
PREAMBLE
- Opposition: Portsmouth
- Competition: League One
- Venue: Vale Park stadium
- Date: 27th January, 3pm
Well, if you’ve been away, there’s a fair bit to catch up on. First of all, Vale haven’t completed (or in one case started) their last two fixtures.
The game against Reading was abandoned while the game against Wycombe postponed. Vale fans will subsequently receive a refund for the Reading game according to a statement by newly appointed CEO Matt Hancock.
As for playing matters, we’ve had a recall for impressive loanee Alfie Devine as well as another recall for Kofi Balmer. Coming in the opposite direction were the signings of loanees Jenson Weir from Brighton, Rhys Williams from Liverpool and Dan Gore from Man Utd. Meanwhile, a possible transfer of Uche Ikpeazu to Charlton Athletic eventually never took place.
Finally, there was a fans forum on Thursday night as well as extensive interviews with club staff on BBC Radio Stoke. Two of the issues that came out were that Vale are hopeful of agreeing deals with two of their young up-and-coming players while Director of Football David Flitcroft outlined their tactics for scouting a new striker
TEAM NEWS
Line-Up
So what team will Andy Crosby pick? It appears he may actually be somewhat spoilt for choice. Loanee Jenson Weir (who played 16 minutes at Reading) may actually get a full game and fellow loan additions Dan Gore and Rhys Williams may also feature. Dan Jones is also fit again but after such a long lay-out could only make the bench.
We expect Ikpeazu and Wilson upfront while Gore and Weir could team up in central midfield with Chislett just ahead of them. Williams’ presence in the back three could be dependent on his fitness after suffering injuries while on loan at Aberdeen.
Injuries
Influential midfielder Funso Ojo is said to be “next in line” to return but there are longer lay-offs for the likes of Mitch Clark, Ben Garrity and James Plant.
OPPONENTS
- League position: 1st
- Form: W-L-L-W-D
- Top-scorer: Bishop (13)
- Manager: John Mousinho
Season so far
Hope are high that Portsmouth will seal an automatic promotion spot this season. However, there’s been a recent wobble in form with the side winning just two of their last seven League games.
Last game
Portsmouth won 1-0 at Fleetwood last weekend thanks to an early goal from loanee Abu Kamara.
Team news
Pompey remain without injured quartet of Regan Poole, Zach Swanson, Alex Robertson and Tino Anjorin, while Kusini Yengi is away on international duty with Australia. However, Joe Morrell may return.
Man in charge
John Mousinho is in his first managerial role. He’s won 29 of his 58 games in charge.
THREE TO WATCH
Colby Bishop – the powerful striker has three goals in his last three appearances against the Valiants so he’ll need to be marshalled carefully by the defence.
Paddy Lane – the 22 year-old was signed from Fleetwood in January 2023 and has seven goals this season. He’s also been capped by Northern Ireland.
Myles Peart-Harris – just signed on loan from Premier League Brentford, the energetic attacking midfielder impressed at Forest Green last season.
ARCHIVE
Here’s a look at a vintage Portsmouth programme which we featured on this website some years ago. It features a Port Vale trip to Portsmouth in the League Cup back in 1967 and (like many of our League Cup games) it was to end in disappointment.
CONNECTIONS
Current
There are no current players to have appeared for both sides.
Former
There are a number of players to appear for both sides in recent years. The list includes striker Ellis Harrison, midfielder Michael Brown, defender Richard Duffy and winger Marcus Harness.
HISTORY
- Port Vale wins: 9
- Draws: 9
- Port Vale losses: 20
Matches
The two sides first met in 1924 when the Valiants suffered a 2-0 defeat. It took until 1977 for the Vale to record a win – that came in a 1-0 win at Vale Park thanks to a winning goal from striker Mick Cullerton. The game earlier this season ended in a 2-0 loss for the Valiants
Brief History
Portsmouth were founded in 1898. The team won two consecutive League titles in 1949 and 1950 as well as the FA Cup in 1939 and 2008. Portsmouth are also one of only two English football clubs to have been champions of five professional divisions including the former regional Football League Third Division South championship.
Trivia
Portsmouth’s first home colours were salmon pink shirts with maroon collars and cuffs.
PREDICT THE SCORE
AND FINALLY
Discuss
Our dedicated match thread on the forum is the place to go to debate the match before, during and after the action. View the thoughts of fellow fans and add your comments…
Quiz time
- Who is the current Pompey boss
- What was the score when they last met?
- When were the club formed?
- In which year did the two sides first play a competitive match?
Quiz Answers (no cheating)
- John Mousinho
- Portsmouth 2-0 Port Vale
- 1898
- 1924
Bert
26th January 2024 @ 1:35 pm
Can’t wait – it seems like years since the last game!