Port Vale v Wycombe Wanderers preview – the very last chance saloon for Valiants

The team are running out of games, have to rely on others and suffered a shocking home defeat at the weekend. The odds are stacked against the Valiants, so a win against Wycombe is an absolute must-have. Here’s our preview…

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Preamble

Vale supporters were left shellshocked by the second-half capitulation against Exeter City on Saturday. The survival chances for the Valiants now look grim but while it’s still possible, the club will have to cross its fingers over other results and try to gain some ground back with three points on Tuesday. Whether they are capable of doing so, remains another matter!

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Team news

Starting XI

There are likely to be changes for this game but one thing Darren Moore will be hoping for is that Uche Ikpeazu can start a second game in four days. The big striker is needed even more after the news that Ryan Loft is a major injury doubt for this game. However, Ikpeazu is only good for around an hour’s play which means, with Loft a doubt and James Wilson ruled out, teenager Baylee Dipepa is the club’s only fully fit striker. It’s a frankly embarrassing state affairs for a crucial run-in. Elsewhere, what changes Moore makes after that awful second 45 minutes in Burslem is frankly anyone’s guess!

Injuries

Striker Ryan Loft is a major doubt for this game after being injured in the warm-up. Fellow striker James Wilson is out for the season as is loanee Dan Gore while the same appears likely for defender Mitch Clark. There were also reports of loanee Alex Mighten picking up a knock too.

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The opposition

Season so far

Safely ensconced in mid-table, Wycombe don’t seem to have much to play for – or at least that is what Vale fans will be desperately hoping.

Last game

Wycombe ended a poor run of four games without a win by beating Shrewsbury on Saturday. The goals came from Luke Leahy and Richard Kone.

Meet some of the players

• Experienced striker Sam Vokes formerly played for Stoke City
• Argentinian goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli signed for the club in September
• 31 year-old Luke Leahy is the club’s top-scorer
• Loanee Dale Taylor was linked with a Vale move at one point

Meet the man in charge

Matt Bloomfield had the unenviable task of taking over from Wycombe legend Gareth Ainsworth. He has 27 wins from 69 games in charge.

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Connections

Current

Striker Uche Ikpeazu has had spells with both clubs – one with Wycombe and two with the Valiants. Meanwhile, former Vale loanee Jack Grimmer is a member of the Wanderers squad.

Recent

Other players to appear for both clubs in recent years include goalkeeper Scott Brown (pictured) and midfielder Anthony Grant.

Featured

We’ll leave aside the obvious choice of Gareth Ainsworth and go more left-field… diminutive midfielder Chris Herd had loan spells with both clubs in quick succession. He joined the Valiants in January 2008 and Wycombe in March of the same year. Then an Aston Villa player, his career in Birmingham never really took off and he began a journeyman career which saw spells in Australia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. He retired in 2021 after around 150 senior appearances and three senior caps for Australia.

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History

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.

Trivia time

Striker Steve Brooker scored Vale’s first competitive goal against Wycombe. It came in a 1-0 win back in 2001.

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Opinion and quiz

Want to discuss things before, during and after the game? Our forum’s dedicated match thread is the place to be. Share your views with fellow fans –

Wycombe Wanderers (H) match thread

Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz

• Who is the current Wycombe Wanderers manager?
• Which Vale striker had a spell at Wycombe?
• What was the score in the last fixture between the two sides?
• In what year was the club formed?

(answers below – no cheating)

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Quiz answers

1. Matt Bloomfield
2. Uche Ikpeazu
3. Wycombe 1-1 Port Vale
4. 1887