It’s been a depressing few days since the awful home loss to Exeter City. Can Port Vale somehow turn their form around? Here’s our match preview.
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Leyton Orient
- Date: Saturday January 31st, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: not available in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
Will lessons be learnt?
Jon Brady was scathing of his side after the 3-1 home loss to Exeter saying that “non-negotiables” didn’t take place on the pitch. Brady also seemingly singled out Jordan Shipley pulling out of a tackle as an example. The manager sympathised with fans saying “I don’t blame them. If I am sat in the stand and I see the ball break to the opposition and we give it away, and I don’t see a player – who I have come to support and believe in – track back with everything he’s got, then I’m starting to get annoyed.”
Expect wholesale changes again
A consequence of the loss is that Brady promised to pick a side which “gives everything” – it could mean the likes of Rhys Walters and returning captain Ben Garrity get catapulted in. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen.
Injury list
George Byers is out till February but Ethon Archer is fit to play while skipper Ben Garrity is fit again.
Possible Vale line-up (4-4-2)
Gauci – John, Heneghan, Humphreys, Headley – G.Hall, Garrity, Walters, Archer – Stockley, Cole
Jon Brady – straight talking
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Leyton Orient
- Manager: Richie Wellens
- Stadium: Brisbane Road
Need to know
Meet the manager
45 year-old Richie Wellens joined Orient as manager in 2022 and has now been in charge for more than 200 games with a win percentage of just under 45%. Wellens has also had spells with Oldham, Salford, Swindon and Doncaster.
Recent form
Vale are facing a side with form (almost) as bad as theirs. Orient have just two wins from their last twelve league and cup games.
Last match
The O’s were comfortably beaten 3-0 by struggling Doncaster Rovers at the weekend.
Trivia
This game is Leyton Orient’s designated community match. Leyton Orient Trust’s work in their local community will be celebrated
Manager Richie Wellens
Opposition history
Essentials
- Most goals: Tommy Johnston (121)
- Most appearances: Peter Allen (491)
- Biggest win: 8-0 (on four separate occasions)
Over the years
Brief History
Founded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club, the football club, called the Orient was created in 1888. they changed their name to Clapton Orient in 1898 and joined the Football League in 1905. The club changed its name to Leyton Orient after World War Two and apart from a 21 period of being called Orient FC in the 60’s and 70’s it has remained Leyton Orient since. A controversial reign by Francesco Becchetti saw the club drop out of the League after 112 years in 2017 but they managed to regain their League status in 2019.
Stadia
The club used two other stadiums before settling at Brisbane Road in 1937. It currently has a capacity of 9,271.
Trivia
During World War One, a total of 41 members of the Clapton Orient team and staff joined up into the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (the Footballers’ Battalion), the highest of any football team in the country. Three sadly lost their lives during the war.
The Brisbane Road 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: 35
- Vale losses: 21
- Draws: 12
Previous games
Fixture history
The two sides first met in 1905 when it finished in a 2-1 win for Vale. The last time Vale travelled to Leyton was in the 2023-24 relegation season when it ended Leyton Orient 0-0 Port Vale. Overall, Vale have a decent record against the visitors with 35 wins compared to twenty one losses.
Last time we met
Goals from Ryan Croasdale and Devante Cole were not enough as Vale slumped to a morale-sapping 2-3 home loss earlier this season.
Classic clash
Check the feature above for the story of Port Vale’s sixth round FA Cup win over Orient back in 1954.
Ryan Croasdale – scored in previous game
Jayden Stockley – played for both
Played for both
Player connections
Port Vale forward Jayden Stockley spent a loan spell with Leyton Orient earlier in his career. Over the years there have been several players to appear for both including midfielder Gavin Massey, centre-halves Dean Smith and Paul Beesley plus striker Carl Griffiths.
Going even further back in time… goalkeeper Reg Davies had brief spells with both, playmaker and former England International Eddie Baily appeared for both sides as did outside-right Brian Jackson who made over a hundred appearances for the Valiants.
Vintage connection
OVF favourite Andy Jones had a spell with Leyton Orient towards the closing stages of his career. Jones, who was signed by Vale from non-league by John Rudge was sold, after 47 goals in 90 games for a then club record £375,000. He moved to Orient in 1991 and scored thirteen times in 59 appearances.
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 Brisbane Road stadium
Test your knowledge
Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz
Who is the current Orient manager?
What the score the last time we met?
How many times have Vale beaten Orient?
Which current Vale striker had a spell with Orient?
What the score the last time we met?
How many times have Vale beaten Orient?
Which current Vale striker had a spell with Orient?
(answers right – no cheating)
Answers
Quiz answers
Richie Wellens
Port Vale 2-3 Leyton Orient
35
Jayden Stockley
Quiz ratings
0/4 – Gavin Massey
1/4 – Carl Griffiths
2/4 – Jayden Stockley
3/4 – Paul Beesley
4/4 – Andy Jones
Theme – (fairly) recent players to play for both clubs
#CarolOut #HancockOut
All I have to say.
We cannot be as bad as we were last week,CAN WE?, AMOS,AND STOCKLEY ,GARITTY, (bench) for me,and a long awaited 3points, followed by three more tuesday, THIS AWFULL RUN STOPS TOMOZ,COME ON VALE,MAKE MY DAY
If Cole goes its the last straw for me ..OK we look like going down ..but its not over until mathamaticly impossible..but we would need tom cruise to get us outa this one ..so Cole I’m sure would thrive in league 2…so sell him and you’ve sold us out Carol…I’m sorry but enough is enough.