It’s perhaps not the glamour tie Vale wanted but this home tie against Championship opposition gives Vale a chance of progressing to the semi-final stages – here’s our preview.
PREAMBLE
- Opposition: Middlesbrough
- Competition: League Cup quarter-final
- Venue: Vale Park stadium
- Date: Tuesday, 7.45pm
So, while hopes have faded in other cup competitions. Port Vale’s League form at least has taken an up-turn. The side have also scored three times in the last two home games so perhaps their spell of pleasing football with no end product is at an end.
We expect a bumper crowd to be in place in Burslem to watch this one with the majority hoping for an upset. If you’re going, the Valiants have produced this matchday guide
THE MANAGERS
“We’re now looking forward to a great night on Tuesday night. A game where no-one expects us to get anything but the rewards are absolutely so big for us as a football club. And for us to be in the quarter-final anyway is a great achievement…”
Andy Crosby – Port Vale manager
“It’s a great stage to be involved in. We’ve earned it. It’s a big game for us. They’ve done very well. They had a fantastic game at the weekend. Lots of movement and quick, clever play so yeah, they’re a good team and totally deserve to be where they are.”
Michael Carrick – Boro manager
TEAM NEWS
Line-Up
Andy Crosby made a big call on Saturday when he replaced captain Nathan Smith with Kofi Balmer. However, with Balmer guilty of a couple of second-half errors, will he recall the normally reliable Smith for this match? The other quandary could concern vice captain Funso Ojo who was forced off early.
Injuries
Josh Thomas is likely to remain sidelined for this one but fellow striker James Wilson has been training – so will he be able to make the squad? Wingback Mitch Clark remains in rehabilitation after surgery.
OPPONENTS
- League position: 13th (Championship)
- Form: W-L-L-L-W
- Top-scorer: Latte Lath (7)
- Manager: Michael Carrick
Recent games
Opponents Middlesbrough won 2-1 at struggling Swansea City at the weekend. They reached the quarter-finals of this competition with a dramatic 3-2 win at Exeter City in the previous stage.
Injury news
Boro are missing a number of players with goalkeeper Seny Dieng now a doubt after being assessed for a thigh injury.
Man in charge
Former England International Michael Carrick was handed his first managerial role in October 2022. His record stands at 31 wins from 59 games in charge.
THREE TO WATCH
Tom Glover
Likely to be in goal if first choice Seny Dieng is ruled out, the six foot three inches Australian has played four times in the League Cup this season conceding five times.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
The 24 year-old Ivory Coast striker joined from Atalanta on a permanent deal in August. The club’s top-scorer with seven goals, including two in the cup.
Jonny Howson (pictured)
The vastly experienced captain is now 35 years of age. He joined Boro after lengthy spells with Leeds and Norwich, the latter in the top flight.
HISTORY
- Port Vale wins: 10
- Draws: 6
- Port Vale losses: 16
Fixture history
The two sides first met in 1899 when it finished in a 3-1 victory for the Valiants. The last time the sides met at Vale Park was back in 1998 when a Paul Merson strike settled it 1-0 in Boro’s favour. They have never faced each other in the League Cup.
Club history
Founded in 1876, they joined the League in 1899 and spent twenty two years in the top-flight playing their first games at Ayresome Park in 1903. They won the League Cup in 2004 and were FA Cup runners-up in 1997.
CONNECTIONS
Current
This will be a big game for Valiants stopper Connor Ripley facing his hometown side and the club where he started his professional career. Ripley, son of Boro favourite Stuart, made just three appearances for the side over a eight year spell. Striker Uche Ikpeazu also spent a year on the Boro books in recent years.
Former
There are a string of former Vale favourites who came via Middlesbrough. The list includes veteran striker Bernie Slaven, cultured central defender Dean Glover and midfielder Paul Kerr, who scored Vale’s first-ever goal at Wembley stadium in the Autoglass Trophy
ARCHIVE
Taken from our YouTube channel here’s some brief highlights from a Port Vale victory back in 1994. The goalscorers on the day were Tony Naylor and Lee Glover.
You can find hundreds more vintage Port Vale clips on our onevalefan YouTube channel here
Predict the score
And finally
Discuss
Our dedicated match thread on the forum is the place to go to discuss the match before, during and after the action. View the thoughts of fellow fans and add your comments…
Quiz time
- Who is the current Middlesbrough manager?
- Who scored the winner when the sides last met?
- When were the club formed?
- When did they win the League Cup?
Quiz Answers (no cheating)
- Michael Carrick
- Paul Merson
- 1876
- 2004
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