If Port Vale can lose at home to Peterborough United then the prospects of taking anything back from a trip to Huddersfield seem pretty bleak. Here’s our match preview.
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Huddersfield Town
- Date: Boxing Day, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: Sky Sports in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
Defensive concerns for Vale
Presuming that Vale stick with four at the back, Darren Moore could have issues for this game. Connor Hall was replaced with a shoulder injury. If he misses out, Vale are short of a left-sided centre-half. Meanwhile, Mitch Clark appears to be the only fit senior right-back and he looked to be struggling as the Peterborough game went on (no wonder after such a long lay-off and you wonder why Vale kept him on so long)
Hopefully no knee-jerk reaction from Moore
It was a poor home loss but even so, this fan hopes that the manager doesn’t opt for a formation change and whoesale changes in personnel. Vale need some consistency in tactics and selection.
Known injury list
Ben Garrity, Funso Ojo, Jordan Gabriel and Liam Gordon are all confirmed long-term injured. George Byers and Kyle John missed the last game. There is no update on Connor Hall’s fitness status.
Possible Vale line-up (4-2-3-1)
Amos – Clark, Debrah, Heneghan, Headley – Walters, Croasdale – G.Hall, Paton, Curtis – Cole
Connor Hall – injury doubt
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Huddersfield Town
- Manager: Lee Grant
- Stadium: Kirklees stadium
Need to know
Meet the manager
42 year-old former goalkeeper Lee Grant is in his first managerial role. He was appointed in May and currently has twelve wins from 29 games in charge.
Recent form
Mixed. Town have won just once in their last six League games. However, they haven’t lost a League game at home since mid-October.
Last match
Huddersfield recorded a decent 3-1 away win over Rotherham United at the weekend.
Manager Lee Grant
Opposition history
Essentials
- Record appearance holder: Billy Smith, 574
- Record goalscorer: George Brown, 159
- Record win: 10-1 versus Blackpool, 1930
Over the years
Brief History
Huddersfield Town were founded in 1908 and were elected to the Football League two years later. They won the FA Cup in 1922 and under the management of Herbert Chapman they won three League championships in the 1920s. They spent two years in the Premier League from 2017 to 2019. They were relegated into League One in 2024.
Stadium
The team have played home games at the Kirklees Stadium (which is currently known as the Accu Stadium for sponsorship reasons) since moving from Leeds Road in 1994.
The Kirklees stadium
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: 18
- Draws: 11
- Vale losses: 19
Previous games
Fixture history
The two clubs first met back in 1920 when it ended in a 4-1 loss for the Valiants. In fact, it took Vale until 1973 to record their first win. With the sides often in different divisions, the last four encounters have all been in cup competitions. Doug Loft, back in 2011, was the last Vale player to score against Town.
Last time we met
The two sides last met in the FA Cup in 2017 when it finished 4-0 to Huddersfield. The last League game was a 1-0 draw back in 2008.
Doug Loft – last Valiant to score against Town
Jaheim Headley is a former Town player
Played for both
Connections
There’s a couple of connections between the two sides. Darren Moore has managed both sides while defender Jaheim Headley joined Vale from Huddersfield.
In recent years there have been a number of transfers between the two sides. Vale have loaned both Kian Harratt and Mustapha Olagunju from Town while striker Mipo Odubeko has had loan spells with both clubs.
Vintage connection
Towering defender John McCombe started his career with Huddersfield Town. After five years at the club he was released and joined Hereford United. In 2008 he was snapped up by the Valiants and he went on to be a popular defender making over 200 appearances and winning promotion in 2013.
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 preview quiz
Who is the current Huddersfield manager?
In what year did they move into the Kirklees stadium?
What was the score when the two sides last met?
Who was the last Vale player to score against Huddersfield?
In what year did they move into the Kirklees stadium?
What was the score when the two sides last met?
Who was the last Vale player to score against Huddersfield?
(answers below – no cheating)
Quiz answers
Lee Grant
1994
Huddersfield 4-0 Port Vale (FAC)
Doug Loft
Quiz ratings
0/4 – Jermaine Holwyn
1/4 – Antony Kay
2/4 – Nathan Smith
3/4 – Neil Aspin
4/4 – Roy Sproson
Today’s theme is centre-halves
I’ve stopped believing in Santa I asked him for a new manager and he didn’t deliver