VALIANTS LOOK TO RISE TO WHEN SCHOLES’ SALFORD
PORT Vale have tended to meet tough challenges head on under John Askey, and could do with following that pattern at home to the bookies’ title favourites Salford City tomorrow.
Playing against the better sides has brought the best out of Askey’s team, in fact they only lost two games last season against sides that finished in the top ten – away to Exeter and Swindon.
That said, playing behind closed doors doesn’t give the Valiants the same advantage as in front of several thousand at Vale Park, all eager to see their side test themselves against one of the fancied sides.
So, the motivation will come from the management and the players themselves as they look to make amends for backto-back league defeats – 1-0 at
Morecambe and the same result at home to Carlisle.
Vale haven’t scored in their last three league games, something the manager tried to address in the Carlisle game by picking an attacking 4-4-2 with Tom Pope and Theo Robinson up front, Devante Rodney and David Worrall on the wings and Danny Whitehead and Scott Burgess in central midfield.
But after a bright start, Vale’s threat fizzled out as Carlisle were deserved winners, although that might have been different had Rodney not placed an early free header wide or had Pope not had his 51st-minute penalty saved, four minutes before Jon Mellish scored the winner.
The manager isn’t giving his team away ahead of this game, but it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he returns to the 4-3-3 line up he’s used for most of his 20 months at Vale Park.
Luke Joyce and Tom Conlon could return after they were dropped to the bench last week. Meanwhile, Manny Oyeleke, pictured, could also be an option having trained all week after missing three games with a muscle strain. We can expect to see a change at the back now Nathan Smith is available having had to isolate for a fortnight because a family member tested positive for Covid-19.
Smith has trained all week and so, after missing the last three games, can resume his regular central defensive partnership with captain Leon Legge. Vale take on a Salford side who will be under the temporary management of Paul Scholes after Graham Alexander was sacked on Monday.
Scholes is a part owner of the club with Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and David Beckham.
He is taking temporary charge because
Warren Joyce, the club’s development manager, is currently isolating.
Salford were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Tranmere on Saturday, having led 2-0 after 86 minutes.
However, they are fourth in the League Two table and unbeaten.
Vale Park should have fond memories for Scholes because he made his Manchester United debut on the ground, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win in the League Cup in September 1994.
He takes charge of a side whose away record is formidable to say the least. Salford have won six of their last seven away league games, the other being the 1-1 draw at Vale in February.
That was also the last time they conceded a goal away from home in the league.