Bromley v Port Vale preview – packed house and high expectations as Valiants push for promotion

The Vale view

Form

Very good. The Valiants have won five out of their last six games including three consecutive wins. That run includes four clean sheets showing the resilience of the Port Vale back-line.

Fitness

There’s good and bad news on the wingback front. Influential Jaheim Headley is back in training although this game may be too early for him to feature. However, Kyle John is now out for the remainder of the season after an injury against Walsall. Utility player James Plant is another who is out for the season.

Team selection

We don’t expect too many changes from the side that faced Walsall. Kyle John is ruled out so it seems the choice will be between Sam Hart and Jack Shorrock to replace him. Jaheim Headley may make the bench but otherwise it should be broadly the same starting eleven that defeated Walsall last weekend.

Possible line-up

Formation: 3-4-1-2

Starting eleven: Amos – Debrah, Smith, Hall – Clark, Croasdale, Walters, Shorrock – Garrity – Stockley, Tolaj

Trivia: lat weekend marked the 350th appearance of Ben Amos’ senior career.

Viewing guide

This game will not be shown on Sky Sports+ in the UK and so Vale fans in the UK will not be able to watch. Viewers outside of the UK can see the game on the PVTV service.

Guide to the opposition

Club factfile

• Team: Bromley
• League: League Two
• Manager: Andy Woodman

Trivia: Bromley won their first-ever Football League game – 2-0 at Harrogate

Man in charge

53 year-old Andy Woodman is a former goalkeeper who made over 400 appearances including spells with Northampton Town, Brentford and Oxford United. Woodman started his managerial career with a brief spell at Whitehawk before taking over at Bromley in 2021. He was an immediate success at the club. He took them to the play-offs in his first season, won the FA Trophy in his second season and won promotion to the Football League in his third season. His managerial stats stand at 94 wins from 219 games.

Form

Bromley sit in a highly creditable twelfth place in their debut League season. They were in fine form in midweek with a 4-0 home win over Accrington. Their last away fixture was a 1-1 draw at Newport County.

Squad and injuries

Bromley have picked a pretty consistent starting eleven in the League this season. Grant Smith, Michael Cheek and Kamarl Grant have only missed a single League game apiece.

Ones to watch

Forward Michael Cheek has been in blistering form this season. The long-serving forward, now 33 years of age has twenty one League goals already.

We were also impressed with loanee Danny Imray in the previous meeting. The right sided player is on loan from Crystal Palace and caused Vale all sorts of problems in the away game.

History

Current connection

Need we mention that former Valiant and antihero Harry McKirdy is in the Bromley squad? The former Vale player missed a crucial penalty for Swindon Town in their play-off semi-final defeat to Vale, to the delight of the Vale fans. He made twelve appearances for the Vale, scoring twice.

Former Connections

There’s not too many players to have appeared for both clubs in recent years but the list includes striker JJ Hooper, forward Ben Williamson and midfielder Nathan Ferguson.

Featured connection

Cultured midfielder Simon Osborn had spells with both clubs. The former Wolves player joined Vale in 2001 and immediately made an impact on the Valiants side. However, his spell was brief after he moved up a division to join Gillingham. He made just nine appearances in a Vale shirt. Towards the end of his playing career, he was appointed player-manager of Bromley making 54 appearances and scoring twice.

Overall record

• Port Vale wins: 0
• Port Vale losses: 0
• Draws: 1

Fixture history

This is the second competitive game between the two sides. The first game ended in a 0-0 draw after an impressive Bromley performance. Vale did think they had scored through Jayden Stockley but it was disallowed. However, they were grateful for a fine display from goalkeeper Connor Ripley to secure a clean sheet.

Brief history

Bromley were formed in 1892 and were founder members of the Southern League. They joined the National League for the first time in 2015 and won promotion to the Football League at the end of last season.

Club records

• Record attendance: 10,789 v Nigeria XI, 1948
• Biggest win: 13-1 v Redhill, 1946
• Biggest loss: 11-1 v Barking, 1934

Your views

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