Port Vale manager Jim Gannon has managed just 4 points in his first 8 games in the Vale Park hot seat (W1 D 1 L6 F 4 A 18) with his side scoring just once in the last three games prior to their visit to The Imps. Perhaps that is why the under fire board at Vale Park are about to get the cheque book out for Rotherham striker Tom Pope, although hopefully not in time for Saturday’s game.
In many ways the Imps could not be playing Vale at a better time with boardroom unrest, discontent on the terraces and a stalling promotion bit that could see them even drop out of the playoffs this weekend if all the results went the right way. Then again this club has money, talent, strength in depth and a manager that has been there done it and got the T shirt to prove it.
This will be an intriguing match that offers both sides the chance to get back to, or in the Imps case maintain, winning ways. So let’s without further ado take a look at the Valiant heroes & Villains and focus on the form of the Foe.
Form & Seasonal Highs & Lows
Biggest Home Win 2-0 Accrington Stanley
Biggest Away Win Stockport County 0-5
Heaviest Home Defeat 1-2 Torquay United, 0-1 Cheltenham Town
Heaviest Away Defeat Rotherham United 5-0
Highest Aggregate Score Stockport County 0-5, Rotherham United 5-0
Longest Winning Sequence
5 games: at Bradford City, Aldershot Town, at Macclesfield Town, Accrington Stanley, Shrewsbury Town
Longest spell Unbeaten
8 games: at Hereford United, Gillingham, at Cheltenham Town, Crewe Alexandra, at Burton Albion, at Northampton Town, Wycombe Wanderers, at Stockport County
Longest winless Sequence
4 games: at Oxford United, at Hereford United, Gillingham, at Cheltenham Town
Last 8
D-L-L-L-W-L-L-L
Goals scored 4 Conceded 18.
Last 3 opponents
Barnet 25/1 -H- League Two Drew 0 - 0
Cheltenham 22/1 -H- League Two Lost L 0 - 1
Crewe 15/1 -A- League Two Lost 2 - 1
Home Form
The Valiants are ranked 8th in respect of home prowess.
P 11 W 6 D 3 L 2 F 12 A 7 GC 5
Away Form
Vale started off the season beating all on their travels but are now ranked a somewhat deceptively high 4th in League 2.
P 14 W 5 D 4 L 5 F 17 A 15 GC 2
Overall position
Vale are currently 5th in Npower League 2 with the following tale of the tape.
P 25 W 11 D 7 L 7 F 29 A 22 GC 7
The Ker-ching Crowds
Highest Gate 8607 Crewe Alexandra
Lowest Gate 4112 Barnet
Average Attendance 6122
Total Turnstile Clicks 67344
The Valiants Heroes & Villains
Goal Takers
13 Marc Richards
9 Justin Richards
4 John McCombe, Sean Rigg
3 Louis Dodds
2 Gary Roberts, Robert Taylor,
1 Gareth Owen, Lee Collins, Anthony Griffith, Jake Speight
Goal Makers
5 Marc Richards
3 Justin Richards, Gary Roberts, Sean Rigg
2 Anthony Griffith, Doug Loft, Robert Taylor, Kris Taylor
1 Louis Dodds, Tommy Fraser, Lewis Haldane
Keeper Corner
Stuart Tomlinson
Games 31
Saves 134 (L2-107 FAC-12 LC-15)
Clean sheets 15 (L2-13 FAC-2)
Yellow Cards
10 Gary Roberts,
5 John McCombe
4 Marc Richards
3 Lee Collins
2 Sean Rigg, Justin Richards, Gareth Owen, Adam Yates, Robert Taylor, Louis Dodds
1 Anthony Griffith, Doug Loft, Kris Taylor, Tommy Fraser, Lewis Haldane, Sam Morsy
Reds - 3
1 Gareth Owen, Marc Richards, Anthony Griffith
Forthcoming Fixtures
Sat 29/1 A - Lincoln C 15:00 League Two
Tue 1/2 H - Rotherham 19:45 League Two
Sat 5/2 A - Wycombe 15:00 League Two