On paper, the trip to Port Vale might have appeared to be one of our most difficult, when the fixtures first came out. Newly-relegated, their demise was a bit of a surprise to most of us used to seeing them doing better over the last ten years or so. They were among the fancied teams to go up but have struggled to maintain consistency; they've got through one manager already and, like most of our recent opponents seemed to, they sit one place below us, ready to jump ahead if they win.
After an opening-day win over Luton, a run of five defeats began in September and, although they posted a recovery by winning four out of six a month later, they have won only one of their last five league matches, and went out of the FA Cup at Macclesfield. We too are in a poor trot of form, having lost the last three league games and drawn the three before that, so something has to improve on Saturday!
If you were cherry-picking away games, Vale Park would tick the "fairly convenient" and "nice trip over" boxes, but you'd avoid it like the plague on past results. We haven't won there since 1987-8 and we paid for that league win by getting horribly tonked the following season. Since then Vale have stuck an average of more than three goals a game in our nets, and we've managed only one draw.
Vale's financial condition (and their admirably responsible-looking approach to it) means that their side is based around youth. As many as twelve members of their most recent squads have been aged 23 or under. Manager Dean Glover has tried to import experience by signing the likes of Dave Brammer and Scott Brown, while adding Neil McKenzie (Notts County) and Gareth Owen (Stockport) on loan. Sam Stockley came into the side last week when Anthony Griffith started on the bench having had wisdom teeth removed, and Brown and Paul Edwards both missed the game through injury.
Lee Richardson will add Jordan Bowery and Lee Askham to the squad. The latter has been training with the club after impressing in a reserve friendly in November, and he signed an initial one-month deal on Thursday. A midfielder, he came through Sheffield United's youth scheme and had trials at Manchester United in September. Derek Niven edges closer to a return to training after his chemothery session went ok this week. Alan Goodall will be suspended until and including the Darlington game (subject to our starting just the one more game against Droylsden). Jamie Winter and Lloyd Kerry also miss the game through suspension, having accrued five yellow cards so far this season.
SB
If you are unable to get to Vale Park, the game will be covered on Spireites World.
