Theo-nly way is up for Vale star Robinson
WITH FOUR GOALS TO HIS NAME, THEO ROBINSON LOOKS LIKELY TO GET THE NOD TODAY, REPORTS MIKE BAGGELEY
IN a mixed week of results, Theo Robinson is the player whose stock has risen the most. The summer signing from Colchester impressed as a substitute against Salford, when he also played a part in the late winner, then took his chance at Cambridge after he was called up to the starting XI.
Yes, he faded towards the end of that defeat, but he put away his 18th-minute penalty for his fourth goal of the season and showed enough in his all-round play to move ahead of Mark Cullen, Devante Rodney and Tom Pope for the central striking role at Oldham this weekend.
Manager John Askey isn’t giving his team away but did pretty much say Robinson will start.
He said: “It is up to the person who has got the shirt. I thought when he came on he did well against Salford, and I thought he did well the other night. So, he is in pole position.
“But as Theo and all the players know, you can’t expect to get your shirt every week. You have to put in performances, so hopefully he will put in a performance against Oldham and he will keep the shirt.”
Robinson has this week shown the sort of form Askey was looking for when he recruited the former Derby, Huddersfield and Millwall striker on a free for a second spell at Vale Park.
He scored twice in eight starts and six appearances off the bench in the second half of the 2015/16 season under Rob Page but has already surpassed that by netting four in five starts and six substitute appearances this season.
He has plenty of competition with Cullen now recovered from a calf strain, and Pope and Rodney also hoping for an
opening, but has pressed his case over the last week.
Askey said: “Theo has played at a decent level. He is 31, he still has plenty left in him. He is still quick and strong and you don’t play at those sorts of levels and score the goals that he has if you are a bad player. It is just a matter now of fitting him into our team and getting the best out of him.
“He is looking better with each game so hopefully that will continue.
“He tired a bit over the last 30 minutes (at Cambridge), but that was to be expected. But there are good signs there and I think, if we get the service to him, he will get goals as well.”
‘MATCHDAY EXPERIENCE IS VITAL’
THE Port Vale Supporters Club has written to the government urging them to allow supporters into grounds.
Vale were hopeful of accommodating all their 4,000 season-ticket holders safely into the 18,000 capacity Vale Park when supporters were due to return at the start of October. But those plans were put on hold by the government because of the rise in coronavirus cases.
At the moment supporters are only allowed at grounds at levels below the National League North and South.
In the letter, Supporters’ Club chairman Mark Porter says: “The impact of not allowing fans into matches is far wider than just the financial aspect. It also has a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many people for whom the routine and release given by the matchday experience is vital, especially in the current environment.
“There has been an incredible amount of work undertaken by Port Vale Football Club to ensure a covid safe environment, and the capacity of the ground would ensure that socially distanced bubbles could be implemented with fans wearing face coverings if that became mandatory.
“The club has done some outstanding work during the lockdown period and in the following months, supplying meals to people in need across the city of Stokeon-trent.
“It is an integral part of the local community and the fact that over 4,000 fans have purchased season tickets, in a working class area, despite not knowing when they will be allowed back to watch live football, shows just how much the club means to the people of the area.”