MATCH STATS

League Two: February 3, 2018 PORT VALE ..................................................... 0 MORECAMBE ................................................. 0 Neil Aspin said his team were likely to be involved in more games like this nervy, scrappy, goalless draw at home to Morecambe as they tried to secure their safety in the Football League. The Valiants dropped a place to 19th, but remained seven points clear of the relegation zone, after a frustrating game. The visitors were the better side in the first half and, although Vale improved after the break, a winner would have been harsh on Morecambe. Some Vale fans showed their frustration during the game, but Aspin said he and the players had to deal with that, and focus on giving them something to cheer. “We have all played football, it is the type of

out of the players and they all put in a shift, that’s what they will be doing on Saturday.” ■ VALE will find out their next opponents in the Checkatrade Trophy when the draw is made today at 12.20pm, on Sky.

The draw for the last 16 is split into North and South sections so Vale could face Accrington, Bury, Manchester City under-21s, Newcastle under-21s, Shrewsbury, Sunderland or either Rochdale or Oldham who still have to play their last 32 game.

If they can get through, then game, especially nowadays, where everybody comes under criticism, and the manager gets the most,” he explained “It is difficult for me to tell people who come to games what to do. I think nobody benefits from getting booed, and certainly as a player you want encouragement. It is not very nice when you hear booing, but the players have to be strong mentally, show character.”

FORM GUIDE Morecambe: LWLDL Port Vale: WLLWW

WHO WE’D LIKE TO SIGN Ajay Leitch-smith: Ex-valiant has impressed the media in Morecambe with his creativity and five goals this season.

WHO TO BOO Kevin Ellison: If he repeats the brilliant solo

the draw is no longer regionalised from the quarter-finals onwards.

The teams left in the southern half of the draw are Bristol Rovers, Chelsea under-21s, Cheltenham, Northampton, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Southend and the winners of the last 32 game between Oxford and Spurs under-21s.

Vale have made £70,000 from this season’s competition, having collected a £20,000 participation fee, £10,000 for each of their group wins and a further £20,000 for beating Stoke in the goal he scored for Morecambe against Vale reserves a couple of months ago.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear): His last Vale game was the 2-0 defeat at Grimsby on October 6..

Morecambe: Roche, Cranston, Lavelle, Old, Conlan, Kenyon, Tutte, Mandeville, Leitch-smith, Ellison, Oliver. Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Rawlinson, Smith, Vassell, Kay, Oyeleke, Conlon, Montano, Pope, Hannant.

PREDICTIONS The Vale to nick it 2-1 with goals from Tom Pope and Cristian Montano to send the visiting fans happy on their way down the M6 back to Burslem.

round of 32. However, we understand the Vale estimate the damage caused to the away end during the Stoke game is between £75,000 and £100,000.

Damage includes a smashed up toilet block, around 150 seats ripped out and a wrecked public address system.

Vale won that game thanks to two goals from Cristian Montano and one apiece from Luke Hannant and Tom Pope.

Should Vale win their last 16 game they will earn a further £40,000 in prize money.