The pressure is certainly growing on the Port Vale manager as he takes his off-form team to Lincoln City. Here’s our preview.
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Lincoln City
- Date: Saturday November 28th, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: not available in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
It’s all about the manager
As our opinion pieces (which are here, here and here if you missed them) the pressure is very much on manager Darren Moore with many fans having lost faith in his ability to turn this around. Club CEO Matt Hancock has backed the manager but more than words, Moore needs a decent performance on the pitch. Should he fail to get one then the writing could be on the wall.
What are the repercussions?
Failure to get an away victory will mean Vale’s winless run in the League will be stretched to eight games.
How Moore can help himself
There’s a few things the manager can do to help. He can not play players out of position. He can be more consistent in selection and he can be less scattergun with his substitutions. But will he do them?
Known injury list
Marvin Johnson, Mitch Clark, Jordan Gabriel and Liam Gordon are all long-term injured.
Possible Vale line-up (3-5-2)
Gauci – Humphreys, Heneghan, C.Hall – John, Garrity, Walters, Headley – G.Hall – Stockley, Cole
Darren Moore: pressure’s on
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Lincoln City
- Manager: Michael Skubala
- Stadium: Sincil Bank
Need to know
Meet the manager
43 year-old former Leeds United coach Michael Skubala was appointed Lincoln head coach in November 2023, his first managerial role. He has won 48 of his 110 games in charge – a win ratio of 44%.
Recent form
Not great. City have won just one of their last five League One fixtures.
Last match
Lincoln lost 3-2 away at Wycombe at the weekend thanks to a 88th minute Jack Grimmer winner.
Manager Michael Skubala
Opposition history
Essentials
- Record appearance holder: Grant Brown, 469
- Record goalscorer: Andy Graver, 143
- Record win: 11-1 vs Crewe, 1951
Sincil Bank
Over the years
Brief History
Founded in 1884, Lincoln became founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892. The side yo-yo’ed between the lower divisions before they suffered a double relegation to the Conference in 1987.
They regained their Football League status in 1988. They reached the play-offs in five consecutive seasons, from 2002 to 2007, losing in the final twice and the semi-finals three times, which is a competition record.
However they returned to the Conference in 2011. A six-season stay in non-league was ended when Cowley brothers, Nicky and Danny, led the club to the National League title in 2017, as well as a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. They won the Football League Trophy in 2018 and the League Two title in 2018–19.
Stadium
Lincoln City started playing at the John O’Gaunts ground in 1884 before moving to Sincil Bank in 1895.
Trivia
Lincoln hold the record for points gained under the old two points for a win system. It was for the 1975–76 campaign when they were managed by Graham Taylor. The club won the Division 4 title with 74 points in total.
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: 33
- Draws: 24
- Vale losses: 35
Previous games
Fixture history
The two sides first met in 1894 when it finished in a thrilling 4-3 win for Lincoln. Vale’s last win over City was back in 2022 when Dan Butterworth scored in a 1-0 win.
Last time we met
The two sides last met in February 2024 when it ended in a 2-0 away win for Lincoln. The previous fixture was more dramatic as both sides had a player dismissed (Ollie Arblaster for the Vale) and Ben Garrity was Vale’s goalscorer in a 1-1 away draw.
Memorable match
OK, it’s not technically memorable as no-one alive witnessed it but… Port Vale recorded an incredible 7-1 win in March 1895. It was remarkable because the season to date had been a disaster. Up till that point, Vale had lost 18 of their 25 matches. The scorers in the goalfest were Billy Beats (2), Dick Evans, James Mason, Alf Wood. Meshach Dean and an unknown scorer.
Ben Garrity: scored last goal against Lincoln
Tom Pett as a Lincoln player
Played for both
Player connections
There are no connections in either squad but over the years there have been several players to appear for both including midfielder Tom Pett, striker Geoff Horsfield and goalkeeper Joe Anyon.
Vintage connection
Going a bit further back, striker Roy Chapman served both sides with distinction. The targetman scored 35 goals in 78 Lincoln appearances and had a very similar record at Vale Park – 37 goals in 83 games. He sadly passed away in 1983.
Predict the score
Have your say
Discuss the game
Want to discuss things before, during and after the game? Our forum’s dedicated match thread is the place to be. Share your views with fellow fans
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 Lincoln manager?
What the score the last time we met?
When were Lincoln formed?
Who was the last Vale player to score against Lincoln?
What the score the last time we met?
When were Lincoln formed?
Who was the last Vale player to score against Lincoln?
(answers below – no cheating)
Quiz answers
Michael Skubala
Port Vale 0-2 Lincoln City
1884
Ben Garrity
Quiz ratings
What with recent transfer news, the ratings for this game will be loan goalkeepers. How did you fare?
0/4 – Steve Cherry
1/4 – Jack Stevens
2/4 – Mike Stowell
3/4 – Joe Gauci
4/4 – Neville Southall
Although highly improbable a win will not sort this sh*t show. How long would it be until we are having the same debate, a week, 2 weeks a month?Moore should have already left the building and he knows it. TAXI for MOORE 5PM Lincoln Saturday.
Because of Darren Moores performances this season and the team’s poor performances I believe Moores days as manager are nearly over. Listening to his interviews I don’t know whether laugh or cry. One really annoying thing for in is he never gives a straight answer to a question often going on long boring monologues repeating the same statements week after week. The interviews he has are pretty tame affairs there’s no follow up questions or probing questions it’s all pretty pointless. My wife who’s never been interested in football listens to them really for their entertainment value.
I will listen to the game via PVTV with no expectations that Vale will win or even score a goal.