The gap is widening so Port Vale must get three points on New Year’s Day if they are to stand the remotest chance of staying up. Here’s our preview.
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Blackpool
- Date: Thursday January 1st, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: Sky Sports in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
A win at all costs
Caretaker Jamie Smith did reasonably well with the team at Bradford, despite their loss, but they now need to up their game for what could be a vital fixture. Simply Vale need to get three points one way or the other.
More creativity?
To win Vale need to create chances and although they were resilient at Bradford, they probably need to switch things around for this game. I would suggest bringing in George Hall as a creative presence in midfield would help while sticking with the forward partnership of Stockley and Cole.
Known injury list
Funso Ojo, Ben Garrity, Mitch Clark, Jordan Gabriel and Liam Gordon are all long-term injured.
Possible Vale line-up (3-4-1-2)
Amos – John, Heneghan, Humphreys – Clark, Croasdale, Byers, Headley – G.Hall – Stockley, Cole
George Hall – could add creativity
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Blackpool
- Manager: Ian Evatt
- Stadium: Bloomfield Road stadium
Need to know
Meet the manager
44 year-old Ian Evatt took over following the dismissal of Steve Bruce. The former Barrow and Bolton manager has been in charge for fourteen games, winning eight of them.
Recent form
Really good. Blackpool are unbeaten in their last six League games having won five of them.
Last match
A 4-0 home thrashing of Rotherham United.
Manager Ian Evatt
Opposition history
Essentials
- Record appearance holder: Jimmy Armfield, 569
- Record goalscorer: Jimmy Hampson, 252
- Record win: 10-0 versus Lanerossi Vicenza, Anglo Italian Cup 1972
Over the years
Brief History
Founded in 1887, the club joined the Football League in 1896. Blackpool have worn tangerine strips from 1923 onwards. They first reached the top-flight in 1929 before a golden period which saw them win the FA Cup final in 1953. In 2010, they reached the Premier League for a season. However, the club – under despised owners the Oystons then plummeted to the fourth division. The Oystons were finally ousted in 2019.
Stadium
Bloomfield Road is the third stadium in the club’s existence, the previous two being Raikes Hall Gardens and the Athletic Grounds. The record attendance is 38,098 when Blackpool played Wolves in 1955.
Trivia
For the first and only time in the club’s history, four Blackpool players represented England in the infamous 6–3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley on 25 November 1953.
The Bloomfield Road stadium
Archive
This site is thirty years old and has thousands of posts. Here are a couple to feature the opposition.
Head-to-head
How it stands
- Vale wins: 35
- Draws: 11
- Vale losses: 33
Previous games
Fixture history
The two sides first met in 1898 when it ended in a comprehensive 4-0 away win for the Vale. James Peake was the scorer of the club’s first goal against Blackpool. Vale did even better in the return leg winning 6-1 at home with the prolific Peake netting four times.
Last time we met
The two sides last met in the League Cup earlier this season. Loanee Mo Faal scored the winner in a 1-0 Vale win. In terms of League meetings, Vale won 3-0 in December 2023.
Mo Faal – the last Vale goalscorer against Blackpool
George Byers in Blackpool colours
Played for both
Player connections
Vale have three former Blackpool men in their squad although two of them are ruled out through injury. Captain Ben Garrity, signed for an undisclosed fee from the Seasiders, is on the sidelines as is summer addition Jordan Gabriel. However, stand-in skipper George Byers, who had a loan spell with Blackpool in 2024, is expected to start. Other recent players to appear for both include midfielder Jenson Weir, defender Rhys Williams and striker Uche Ikpeazu (with all three having loan spells at both clubs – and Ikpeazu subsequently rejoining Vale on a permanent basis).
Vintage connection
Defender Terry Alcock was born in Hanley and turned professional with Port Vale in 1964. A near ever-present from 1965 to 1967 his form attracted the attention of bigger clubs. He was subsequently signed by Blackpool manager Stan Mortensen for a fee of £30,000 in 1967. This was a then club record fee for the Valiants. Alcock helped his new side to promotion in 1970 as well as winning the Anglo-Italian cup competition. After almost 200 games for Blackpool he then rejoined the Vale in 1977. However, it was to be only a short second spell with Alcock chalking up just seven games before moving on to Halifax Town. In total, Alcock made 392 appearances, scoring 32 times.
Predict the score
Have your say
Discuss the game
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Join the debate:
The Vale Park stadium
Test your knowledge
Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz
Who is the current Blackpool manager?
What the score the last time we met?
How many times have Vale beaten Blackpool?
Which three Vale players have had spells with Blackpool?
What the score the last time we met?
How many times have Vale beaten Blackpool?
Which three Vale players have had spells with Blackpool?
(answers right – no cheating)
Answers
Quiz answers
Ian Evatt
Blackpool 0-1 Port Vale
35
Ben Garrity, Jordan Gabriel and George Byers
Quiz ratings
Today’s theme is players to appear for both sides. How did you fare?
0/4 – Rhys Williams
1/4 – Jensen Weir
2/4 – Uche Ikpeazu
3/4 – Ben Garrity
4/4 – Terry Alcock
Stating the obvious, Vale need to start scoring goals. Cole is wasted running his legs off all over the place, he is the only goal scorer we have and his energy needs to be saved to do exactly that. Blackpools improvement just shows what a good managerial appointment can do for a club, as does the Peterborough appointment. Sadly we have both Carol and Hancock making our decisions so I don’t hold out to much hope.
Carol acted too late, but we can see how good she is by the replacement manager. Personally, I want Duncan Ferguson, he seems alright. Shame we haven’t gotten a manager yet too, but 1-0 at Bradford is a good score, could have been better though. 2-1 Vale. UPTV!