Can John Askey’s team continue their play-off challenge with a home victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Colchester United on Saturday? Here’s our preview…
Team news
Team newsIt will be a depleted Port Vale side which takes on Colchester on Saturday. Both Mitch Clark and Tom Pope were sent-off in the midweek win over Forest Green while James Gibbons is still serving a ban. It means Vale are short of right-backs with the contenders to come in Callum Evans or perhaps more likely Will Atkinson. Richie Bennett is favourite to replace Tom Pope upfront. The Valiants may be short of right-backs but the squad is looking pretty strong otherwise – Manny Oyeleke and Nathan Smith may only make the bench while Jake Taylor may be fit enough to make the squad as well.
Visitors Colchester United will be missing midfielder Tom Lapslie and forward Paris Cowan-Hall and will also check on ‘one or two’ of their other players ahead of the game.
Go to the dedicated match thread on the forumPre-match Quote
It is tight isn’t it? It’s another massive game but we have had a run of really tough games on paper, for this past two or three weeks, and we have shown we are more than capable of competing with team teams who have been in that top six or seven all season. There is no reason why we can’t push on now and cement a place in that top six or seven towards the end of the season…
Port Vale defender Shaun Brisley has belief in Vale’s chances
Stats
StatsThe two sides met earlier this season when it finished as a honourable 1-1 draw. Striker Tom Pope (right) gave Vale an early lead before Luke Norris equalised. However, Vale’s home form against Colchester is decidedly patchy with just two wins in the last five meetings. The overall record between the two sides is twenty Vale wins, twenty five Colchester wins and fifteen draws.
Watch John Askey on Vale’s 1-1 draw earlier this seasonForm Guide
The dramatic away victory at Forest Green Rovers means that Vale are now unbeaten in their last four games. Visitors Colchester United have won two of their last five games. However, they are without a win in their last four away games.
Played for both
Played for bothThe Valiants will come up against former defender Luke Prosser who is the current Colchester United captain. Prosser progressed through the Vale junior ranks to make thirty six senior appearances. He left Vale in 2010 and joined Colchester in 2016. He has now made 112 appearances for United. There’s a second former Valiant on the books with loanee Theo Robinson in fine goalscoring form this season. Robinson spent a brief spell with the Valiants in 2016.
View our Luke Prosser player profileOpposition Guide
Managed by John McGreal, Colchester have the experienced Dean Gerkin in goal and another well-known face Frank Nouble in midfield. The leading scorer this season is on-loan former Valiant Theo Robinson with twelve goals but the dangerman is arguably Luke Norris with eight goals in just seventeen League starts.
Guess the Crowd
Guess the CrowdIt’s a very special occasion for us at OVF Towers as Barry Edge hosts his five hundredth Guess the Crowd competition. Enter your guess on the forum for a chance to win some great prizes…
Go to the GTC forum thread
Classic clash
The 2003 meeting between the two sides was a seven goal cracker. The Valiants triumphed 4-3 but as fans who saw the recent FGR game will know – it wouldn’t be Vale without a late scare. The Valiants were trailing 1-2 at half-time but goals from Billy Paynter, Ian Armstrong (pictured right) and Steve McPhee looked to be enough for a comfortable 4-2 win. However, Wayne Andrews’ 88th minute goal reduced it to 4-3. Thankfully for Vale fans the side held on to record the win.
Discuss the match
Discuss the matchDon’t forget that you can discuss the match before, during and after kick-off on our dedicated forum thread. Only registered users can post but why not join our forum for free and debate issues with thousands of other Port Vale fans?
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