Port Vale v Wycombe preview – will we get a ninety minute performance from the Valiants?
After the truncated affair at Reading – will this game last the duration and can Port Vale impress during it. Here’s our preview…
PREAMBLE
- Opposition: Wycombe Wanderers
- Competition: League One
- Venue: Vale Park stadium
- Date: 20th January, 3pm
It may be good to get a full ninety minutes after the drama at Reading and depending of course on the weather in Burslem.
IN THE NEWS...
Devine departs – the Valiants suffered a blow earlier this week with the news that Tottenham had recalled loanee Alfie Devine. The player thanked everyone at the club on his departure before being unveiled at Championship side Plymouth Argyle
Ikpeazu linked to move – the rumour mill has been busy with reports that Charlton Athletic and visitors Wycombe Wanderers are both keen on Ikpeazu. Manager Andy Crosby confirmed there was interest but no concrete offers
Vale linked to players – in the other direction the Valiants have been linked to a couple of young players. The first is Man Utd midfielder Dan Gore while the other is Bradford forward Jake Young.
TEAM NEWS
Line-Up
The Valiants will miss Alfie Devine after his recall by Spurs but this could be a chance for home fans to get a first glimpse of loan signing Jenson Weir. Fellow loanee Rhys Williams will be hoping for a start at the back too. We may also see Rhys Walters back in the starting eleven following Devine’s departure as Vale are somewhat short of numbers in central midfield. With all the transfer rumours flying about could there be personnel changed upfront too?
Injuries
Top scorer Ben Garrity now looks to have joined the long-term list which also includes James Plant, Dan Jones and Mitch Clark. Jesse Debrah is also a doubt.
OPPONENTS
- League position: 14th
- Form: D-W-D-W-D
- Top-scorer: Leahy (7)
- Manager: Matt Bloomfield
Season so far
Wycombe sit just above the Valiants after a poor run of League form which has seen them get just one win in fifteen games.
Last game
Wycombe’s last League game was a 1-1 home draw with Lincoln City. Wanderers were denied a much needed win thanks to a 90th minute City equaliser.
Man in charge
Matt Bloomfield had the unenviable job of taking over from long-serving Gareth Ainsworth. He has won 18 of his 50 games in charge.
THREE TO WATCH
Dale Taylor – the Nottingham Forest youngster was one of a number of players linked with a move to Vale Park. The young striker instead opted for Buckinghamshire where he has been on target six times this season.
Sam Vokes – the veteran centre-forward is likely to be a target of the boo boys due to his Stoke connections. Now 34 years of age, he will still be a physical challenge to the Vale backline.
Luke Leahy – the 31 year-old is the leading scorer this season. Signed in the summer, he has seven League goals so far.
ARCHIVE
Vale fans won’t forget that game in 2013 in a hurry. Micky Adams’ side celebrated promotion to League One with a carnival atmosphere as Vale fans, many in fancy dress descended on Adams Park. We have a gallery of images available through the link below:
CONNECTIONS
Current
Striker Uche Ikpeazu could face one of his former clubs. The powerful forward made 33 appearances for Wanderers in the Championship, scoring six times. On the opposition side is former Vale loanee Jack Grimmer.
Former
There are a string of former Vale favourites who also have connections with Wycombe. The list includes legendary wingers Steve Guppy and Gareth Ainsworth as well as experienced stopper Scott Brown.
HISTORY
- Port Vale wins: 3
- Draws: 8
- Port Vale losses: 7
Matches
The two sides first met in 2000 when it finished in a 1-0 home defeat for the Valiants. The last game between the two was earlier this season when it ended 1-1 at Wycombe with James Wilson (or perhaps Ben Garrity) on target for the Valiants late on.
Brief History
Wycombe Wanderers were founded in 1887 and entered the Southern League in 1896. They won promotion into the Football League as Football Conference champions in 1992–93 under Martin O’Neill. The club secured promotion out of League Two in 2017–18 under the stewardship of Gareth Ainsworth, who then took the club to the Championship for the first time in the club’s history. They returned to League One in 2021.
Image: Wycombe Wanderers in action at Loakes Park (c) Barry Lewis, creative commons licence.
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 Wycombe manager?
- What was the score when they last met?
- When were the club formed?
- Which current Vale forward had a spell with Wycombe?
Quiz Answers (no cheating)
- Matt Bloomfield
- Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Port Vale
- 1887
- Uche Ikpeazu