Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale preview – a tough test for under pressure Port Vale

The Vale view

Form

It feels a bit like the wheels are coming off with just one goal in five games and the last League win way back in November. The home draw against Cheltenham at least showed slight signs of improvement and the return of captain Ben Garrity will be a massive boost but Vale are slipping rapidly out of the promotion picture at the moment.

Fitness

The return of skipper Ben Garrity was extremely welcome but the participation of Jayden Stockley in this fixture is doubtful while this game may come too soon for George Byers. Loanee Benicio also remains sidelined.

Team selection

There were some pretty major changes on New Year’s Day and one hope of many fans is that Darren Moore produces a more settled starting eleven. If he does it would mean Ben Amos continues in goal, Nathan Smith in defence and Lorent Tolaj upfront. New signing Jaheim Headley may also feature on the left flank.

Possible line-up

Formation: 3-4-3

Starting eleven: Amos – Smith, Heneghan, Hall – John, Croasdale, Garrity, Headley – Richards, Tolaj, Curtis

Trivia: should Jaheim Headley start he will be the 30th player to play in the League already this season.

Viewing guide

This game is not being shown on Sky Sports+ in the UK. Viewers outside of the UK can see the game on the PVTV service.

Guide to the opposition

Club factfile

• Team: Doncaster Rovers
• League: League Two
• Manager: Grant McCann

Trivia: The club was formed in 1879 by Albert Jenkins, a railway fitter who took some friends to play a match against the Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf in September 1879. On walking back from the game, the team had a discussion in which they decided to play more and call themselves Doncaster Rovers.

Man in charge

44 year-old Grant McCann is in his second spell with Rovers. The Northern Irishman has also managed Peterborough United and Hull City. His overall record at Rovers is 70 wins from 150 games in charge.

Form

Doncaster’s form has tailed off a little but not in such a dramatic fashion as Vale’s. They have two wins from their last six League games and won 2-1 against Fleetwood on New Year’s Day. They left it late to do so with Billy Sharp scoring the winner in the 90th minute.

One to watch

When he signed for Doncaster in the summer I saw comments on the forum that Billy Sharp was “finished” and would struggle to score a goal in League Two. Well, seven League goals later those doubters have been proven wrong. He turns 39 in February but the striker will still be a handful for the Vale backline.

History

Current connection

Port Vale wingback Conor Grant spent a spell on loan with Doncaster Rovers earlier in his career. He made 21 appearances, scoring once in 2017. In the opposition side is strapping defender Tom Anderson who spent a loan spell with the Valiants back in 2017. Manager Darren Moore has also played for Rovers and managed both sides.

Former Connections

Over the years there have been a number of players to feature for both clubs. The list includes midfielder Anthony Griffith, striker Mipo Odubeko, midfielder Harry Middleton and striker Theo Robinson.

Featured connection

Respected defender John Nicholson was signed from Liverpool by Port Vale in 1961. A regular in the Valiants defence, he made 208 consecutive appearances for the club. He was sold to Doncaster in 1965 and was sadly killed in a car crash in 1966 aged just 29. Port Vale FC donated a sizeable sum to his widow as a mark of respect.

Overall record

• Port Vale wins: 24
• Port Vale losses: 21
• Draws: 9

Trivia: Vale have only lost one of their last five games against Doncaster

Last time we met

The Valiants triumphed 1-0 in the knock-out stages Football League Trophy thanks to a late winner from midfielder Rakeem Harper.

Fixture history

The two clubs first met in 1901 when it finished in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Bert Eardley (pictured) was the scorer of Vale’s first goal against Rovers. Vale’s first win came a year later in 1902 when they recorded a 3-0 home win at the Old Rec.

Archive

This website has been around for nearly 30 years so has a pretty extensive archive. Here’s a few clippings involving this week’s opponents..

Brief history

Doncaster Rovers were formed in 1879 and entered the Football League in 1901 as a replacement for New Brighton Tower. They initially only lasted two seasons in the League before being voted out before being elected in again in 1905. Finishing bottom of the League they were promptly voted out again. They returned in 1924. They dropped out of the League again in 1998 before returning in 2003. Their current home – the Keepmoat stadium – was built in 2006.

Club records

• Record attendance: 37,149 v Hull City, Division 3 (N), October 1948
• Highest League position: Seventh in Division Two, 1902
• Average attendance last season: 6,562

Your views

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