"O listen! for the Vale profound
is overflowing with the sound"
(Wordsworth)
Six games to go, just six games. Win every one and we will be champions - it’s that simple! Delightful thought though that is, it’s highly unlikely - and the visitors from Burslem will be very keen (a) to lay the ghost of our being their “bogey team”, and (b) to further improve their League 2 position. Their forum is eager to point out that if they win at Bescot they will be top of the table (if only temporarily). Vale’s recent form (4 wins in their last 6) has seen them climb to 3rd place, and automatic promotion beckons. Those 6 games were:-
March 11th Colchester Utd (A) Lost 2-1
March 15th M K Dons (H) Won 3-0
March 22nd Morecambe (H) Won 1-0
March 25th Barrow (H) Lost 0-1
March 29th Crewe Alex (A) Won 0-1
April 1st Bradford City (H) Won 2-0
Connections between the two clubs almost warrant a separate thread … perhaps the nearness (geographically speaking) lends itself to easy movements for players. But even managers are “shared” - think Darrell Clarke. Before scrolling down, try to name the 7 (yes, seven) goalkeepers who have played for Port Vale and Walsall… their names will form part of the list that appears below:-
Colin Askey, Nicky Cross, Ronnie Allen (player for them, manager for us), Roy Cross, Keith Ball, John Woodward, Alan Boswell, Danny Sonner, Bernie (“the bolt”) Wright, Ben Purkiss, Mal Benning, Tony Richards, Jonny Brain, Chris Shuker, Devante Rodney, Clayton McDonald, Gareth Ainsworth, Adrian Littlejohn, Ryan McGivern, Trevor Wood, Reg Davies, Ian Brightwell, Richard O’Kelly, Ellis Harrison, Charles “Tim” Rawlings, Zak Mills, Roy Pritchard, Chris Hussey, Geoff Morris, Rory Holden, Dean Smith, Sam Hornby, Rhys Weston, Simon Osborn, Steve Cherry, Graham Newton, Hector Sam, Zak Jules, Steve Waddington, Romaine Sawyers and Brian Palgrave.
For this match to be described as “important” that would be a massive understatement - with Notts County thumping M K Dons tonight leaving us only 4 points clear of the play-offs it is essential that we don’t end up with zero points on Saturday - which brings up Mat Sadler’s selection tactics. Our performance at Doncaster Rovers suggested that some of our pre-Christmas form had been re-discovered, long may that continue if that is the case. George Hall may or may not feature, as the final word seems to rest with parent club Birmingham City. Players are returning from injury, and a full squad should enable Mat Sadler to cover some positions where fatigue has apparently affected certain players’ performances. As always, wait and see!
Prediction? This has to be a home win, despite what the Vale forum is saying … let’s resurrect the favourite score of 2-1, hopefully without having to rely on a 90th-minute effort from DJ !!!
UTS
