Port Vale v Burton Albion preview – will Vale make it ten unbeaten after rearranged fixture?

It’s a rearranged Tuesday night game as the Vale take on near neighbours Burton in Burslem. How will the in-form Valiants fare?

Venue: Vale Park stadium | Date: 19th September2023, 7.45pm | Competition: League One

Preamble

The Valiants made it nine unbeaten with that win over Northampton at the weekend, which saw a first League start for Crystal Palace loanee Kofi Balmer. This is a hastily rearranged fixture after the first game was cancelled due to Vale’s International call-ups.

Port Vale team news

Will manager Andy Crosby keep faith with the same starting line-up for Burton or will he be tempted to bring in the likes of Ben Garrity, a goalscoring sub on Saturday? Either way, Crosby faces some welcome selection headaches as it appears only Mitch Clark and Tom Conlon remain unavailable for him.

Opposition team news

The visitors are winless this season and have just two points so far this season. Albion have problems upfront with just two goals scored this season. Ironically several of Burton’s summer additions were forwards in foemer Barrow man Josh Gordon, former Morecambe striker Cole Stockton, on loan Watford striker Kwadwo Baah  and former Blackpool forward Beryly Lubala. However, Burton have been beset with injuries upfront with manager Dino Maamria saying: ““Our front-line has not been fit everybody knows that, Cole Stockton and Mason Bennett have been out for a while, Josh Walker has just come back and Josh Gordon has been in-and-out out of the squad. ”

Man in charge

Dino Maamria was assistant boss before the departure of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink saw him given the top job in September 2022. He’s been in charge for 54 games with a 35% win ratio.

Familiar faces

There are no players in either squad who have played for the opposition. However, over the years the likes of Marcus Harness, Stuart Tomlinson, Rob Lainton, Nathan Ferguson, Tyler Walker and Justin Richards (pictured) have made appearances for both sides.

Through the years…

The two sides first met in 2010 at Vale Park when it finished in a 3-1 win for the Valiants thanks to goals from Marc Richards (2) and Sean Rigg. Our first competitive trip to Burton ended in a 1-0 defeat.

One of the more memorable games was that 7-1 win in 2013 which helped the Valiants to promotion. A Lee Hughes hat-trick, Ben Williamson brace plus goals for Tom Pope and Chris Birchall secured the victory in front of a bumper crowd of 10,978.

Last time we met…

It ended in a disappointing 3-2 home defeat for the Valiants last season. Ellis Harrison was on target for the Vale before the visitors swept into a 3-1 lead. Jamie Proctor also scored late on but to no avail as a lackkuste Valiants side finished losers.

Overall record

7 Port Vale wins | 3 draws | 5 Port Vale losses

From the archive

Action from a dramatic Port Vale FA Cup win:

A brief history of…

Burton Albion were formed in 1950 and initially joined the Birmingham & District League. Nigel Clough spent seven seasons as the club’s player-manager in the Conference and then led them into the Football League as champions of the Conference in 2008–09. They lost the 2014 League Two play-off final, but went on to win the League Two title in 2014–15 and were promoted from League One in 2015–16. Burton spent two seasons in the Championship until relegation in 2018.

Join the debate

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Burton (home) match thread