VALIANTS’ BIG TEST
Clarke eager to chalk up his first Vale win by toppling in-form Wanderers
DARRELL Clarke is relishing the test at home to in-form Bolton Wanderers this afternoon as Port Vale try to take a step towards Football League safety.
Vale won the reverse fixture 6-3 at the start of December under John Askey, but have plummeted in the league and are only six points clear of the relegation zone.
Askey lost his job at the start of January and now Clarke is looking for his first win in his seven League Two games.
Bolton have taken 26 points from a possible 30 to climb to fourth so will provide a tough test for a Vale side that were much improved in Tuesday’s goalless draw at home to Oldham when they did everything but score.
Clarke says Bolton are a different proposition to the side beaten by Vale three months ago.
He said: “Bolton have changed system. It was a back three then, it is now a 4-2-3-1 and they have had a massive amount of success, they are moving in the right direction.
“They are on a great run of form so we are under no illusions this is going to be a tough test. But every game is different. The game will be different from Tuesday night and we will be looking to put on a performance that gets us three points.”
Vale spent most of the Oldham game on the front foot as fullbacks Zak Mills and Adam Crookes impressed, but Clarke is expecting a different challenge.
He said: “Oldham played a back five – a 5-3-1-1 system - which enables your full-backs to carry the ball a long way up the pitch which Millsy and Crookesy did. In that specific game it enabled us to get some overloads in wide areas, but we are playing against a 4-2-3-1 system in Bolton which is a totally different game.
“They are very much a possession-based team, they move the ball around very well, they have some big name players. The game is going to be totally different. We will try to build on Tuesday night’s performance but I can’t see it being a similar game.
“It is going to be a tough test but we are looking forward to it. We will have a plan, like we do in every game.”
The manager has revealed that Cristian Montano’s injury is not as serious as first feared so he could be close to a return, but James Gibbons is likely to be out for around four to six weeks with a hamstring problem.
Bolton boss Ian Evatt has been named League Two manager of the month for February. He also won that award in November, just before his side were heavily beaten by Vale.
He told the Bolton News: “Obviously it’s left a completely bitter taste in our mouths because at that time we were in great form and we got hit with a massive sucker punch that knocked all the wind out of our sails.
“In all my years of football, that was the most crazy game I’ve ever been involved in.
“We’re hoping it’s not going to be anything like that again and, if it is, hopefully in our favour.”