It’s been a long run of away trips for the Valiants, will they celebrate their return to the Vale Park stadium with a home win over Leyton Orient on Saturday? Here’s our preview…
Team news
Team newsThe Valiants will be missing injured trio Jake Taylor, Manny Oyeleke and Adam Crookes but it remains to be seen if John Askey is tempted to make other changes to freshen up his squad. Options include midfielder Will Atkinson (pictured right), forwards Mark Cullen and Richie Bennett or possibly winger Rhys Browne. Visitors Leyton Orient are looking to bring in some new faces before the game. Recent moves include free transfer goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux on a free transfer and the extension of Spurs loanee George Marsh’s spell at the club.
Other news
Other newsThe Valiants have allowed striker Jordan Archer to leave on loan as the forward links up with Jim Gannon’s Stockport County for a month. The Valiants have also renewed their partnership with the Blink creative who have been responsible for the much-improved marketing to come out of the club this season. Meanwhile, popular media manager Max McLelland has announced he will be leaving the club to take up a new challenge.
Pre-match Quote
Pre-match Quote“It seems a long time ago , we’re just used to travelling away, having pre-match and then playing but we look forward to getting back at home, the record’s there but it’s up against a very good Leyton Orient team on Saturday. Touch wood, I don’t want to jinx it, but we have been good at home and hopefully we can keep it like that…”
Port Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown (pictured right) is in confident mood
Stats
StatsThe two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw earlier in the season. Vale recovered from an early Josh Wright goal to take a 2-1 lead through goals from Scott Burgess (pictured right) and Leon Legge. The home side hit back through Conor Wilkinson and Vale looked to have won it with Jake Taylor’s 85th minute strike only for Orient to equalise in the dying moments of the match.
Overall, Vale have a commanding lead over Orient with 33 wins to 18. There have also been nine draws. The Valiants have an excellent home record against Orient with just one loss in their last eight encounters. Interestingly, Leyton Orient are one of the few clubs for whom Vale cult hero Tom Pope has not scored a goal against while wearing a Vale shirt. Will that change on Saturday afternoon?
Form guide
Form guidePort Vale have lost just once in their last six home games although there have been three draws in that sequence. Visitors Leyton Orient have a poor away record with just one win in their last six trips – a 3-2 win over Cambridge United.
Opposition Guide
Opposition GuideLeyton Orient are managed by 38 year-old Ross Embleton who is in his second spell in charge this season. Former coach Embleton initially took over in the summer following the sad death of Justin Edinburgh before stepping down in September. However, following the departure of Carl Fletcher, Embleton was reappointed on a rolling contract. Embleton’s squad has a few experienced faces in it such as striker Matt Harold and goalkeeper Dean Brill. The side’s top-scorer this season is Josh Wright with seven goals.
Connections
Port Vale defender Shaun Brisley could feature against a side for whom he had a brief loan spell in 2016. He made sixteen appearances, scoring once during his stay with the side. The central defender is likely to be on the bench for Vale on Saturday afternoon.
Looking further back, players to appear for both sides in recent years include battling midfielder Anthony Griffith, winger Wayne Corden, forward Calvin Andrew and winger Shane Tudor.
Memory Match
Memory MatchThe Valiants recorded a memorable 3-2 victory in April 1994. Following up a 2-1 home victory earlier in the season, John Rudge’s side also notched up an away win to complete the double. Legendary Vale striker Martin Foyle (pictured right) was the matchwinner with a hat-trick. It was part of a rock-solid spell for the club with Vale winning six out of eight games played in April. The Valiants would go on to win promotion finishing in second place in the Second Division table with 88 points.
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