Port Vale v Mansfield Town preview – can Valiants build on Exeter with a home victory?

Striking berths secured?

After both scored and linked up well last weekend, it looks like a pairing of Ruari Paton and Devante Cole is the new starting striking pairing. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci also looks to be the number one goalkeeper, ahead of both Marko Marosi and Ben Amos.

A rare unchanged eleven?

After all the chopping and changing there’s a chance that Darren Moore may opt for the same eleven which began in the West County. However, the knock to Ben Heneghan and concerns to monitor the fitness of captain Ben Garrity may still scupper that. Even so, most if not all of the players at St James Park will probably start.

Has Cole made the difference?

“Always believe in Cole” as the Vale fans sang last Saturday. The veteran forward has two goals in two games and his clinical finishing has provided the cutting edge that the Valiants needed earlier in the season.

Focus on the job at hand

Yes, we all know there’s a big cup tie coming but let’s hope that Vale’s attention is on this game and not the midweek fixture against Arsenal.

Possible Vale line-up (3-5-2)

Gauci – Humphreys, Heneghan, Hall – John, Croasdale, Byers, Gordon – Garrity – Cole, Paton

Four thoughts after the Exeter game – have some starting positions been sorted?

Meet the manager

59 year-old Nigel Clough needs little introduction. After spells at Burton Albion, Sheffield United and Derby County, Clough joined Mansfield in November 2020. He has been in charge for 266 games winning 114 of them. He also guided the club to promotion in 2024.

Transfer news

Mansfield added to their striking resources late on in the window. Birmingham forward Tyler Roberts and former Brentford striker Max Dickov both arrived in the final weeks of the window. The club also took three loanees from near neighbours Nottingham Forest.

Recent form

Mixed with two draws and a loss in their last three games. However, their last win was a thumping 4-1 defeat of Orient.

Team news

Veteran striker Lee Gregory has retired. However, key midfielder Jamie McDonnell has returned from International duty. Mansfield have no new injury concerns and enjoy the luxury of a fully fit squad.

Last season

17th in League One.

Brief History

The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changing its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1902 and finally Mansfield Town in 1910. They were admitted to the Football League in 1931 before losing their League status in 2008. They spent five years in non-league before returning in 2013.

Stadium

Field Mill has a claim to be the oldest ground in the Football League having been in use since 1850. It was previously the home ground of Mansfield Mechanics before being taken over by Mansfield Town in 1919.

Trivia

Originally formed as a church team – Mansfield Wesleyans, the ambitious club dropped the “Amateur” tag from their name in 1906. Outraged, the church refused to have anything to do with this new-fangled “professionalism” and cut all ties with the club.

Vintage programme: read Mansfield Town versus Port Vale, 1985

Fixture history

The two sides first met in the 1936-37 season having two memorable encounters. Vale won the first-ever game 5-1 only to lose the return match 7-1. One of the other more thrilling meetings (from a Vale perspective) was the play-off final win at Wembley in 2022 (more on that below). Vale’s last home win came in 2022 when goals from James Wilson and a pair from Kian Harratt gave the Valiants a 3-1 home victory.

Last time we met

The Valiants secured a 1-0 League Cup win in 2023 thanks to a winner from loanee Alfie Devine. It was enough to take the Vale into the final eight of the competition.

Player connections

While there are no current players to appear for both sides, there are a number of them to do so in recent seasons. The list includes striker Will Swan, wingback Mal Benning, midfielder Harry Charsley and goalkeeper Aidan Stone.

Vintage connection

Talented winger Johnny Miller joined the Valiants from Mansfield Town in 1980. He had made over a hundred appearances for the Stags, helping them to promotion in 1977. He quickly became a key player before sadly a knee injury forced his retirement. He made 31 appearances scoring five times in a Vale shirt. Miller sadly passed away in 2016.

Discuss the game

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 –

Match thread for the game

Quiz

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

Who is the current Mansfield Town manager?
When were Mansfield Town formed?
What was the score when the sides last met?
Who is Mansfield Town’s record scorer?

(answers below – no cheating)

Quiz answers

Nigel Clough
1897
Mansfield Town 0-1 Port Vale (League Cup)
Harry Johnson (114)

Quiz ratings

Today’s theme is Neil Aspin’s signings for Port Vale. How did you fare?

0/4 – Ricky Miller
1/4 – Manny Oyeleke
2/4 – Luke Hannant
3/4 – Leon Legge
4/4 – Scott Brown