MATCH STATS

February 10, 2018: League Two CHELTENHAM ................... 5 (Eisa, 13, 44, 79, Adebayo, 66, Boyle, 86) PORT VALE .......................... 1 (Pope, 35) Neil Aspin said individual errors cost his team dearly as they were walloped. The Valiants actually started each half brightly, but were punished for mistakes and could have no excuses for a second-half spell in which Cheltenham took complete control. Mohamed Eisa put the home side in front on 13 minutes but Tom Pope levelled from the spot on 35 after Luke Hannant was fouled. But a mistake by Rob Lainton allowed Eisa to score the second, on 44 minutes, before Ben Whitfield lost the ball on the edge of the area as Elijah Adebayo ran through to score on 66. Vale were awful for the next 20 minutes and were fortunate not to concede more goals than Eisa’s third, on 79, and Will Boyle’s header home from a corner on 86. Port Vale: LLWWD Cheltenham: WLLWW Graham Salisbury (Lancashire): Sent off James Gibbons in Vale’s 1-1 draw at Yeovil last season.

WHO TO BOO Luke Varney is ex Crewe and was linked with Vale a couple of years ago. On that basis, he’s bound to score.

WHO WE’D LIKE TO SIGN Jacob Maddox has shone on loan from Chelsea. The forward was part of the England squad that won the Euro under-19 championships.

PROBABLE TEAMS Port Vale: Brown, Rawlinson, Smith, Legge, Vassell, Kay, Oyeleke, Conlon, Montano, Pope, Hannant. Cheltenham: Flinders, Forster, Tozer, Boyle, Broom, Atangana, Thomas, Clements, Hussey, Jones, Varney

PREDICTION The Vale to win it 3-1 with goals from Tom Pope, Cristian Montano and Tom Conlon. Luke Varney grabs a late consolation for Cheltenham, but it’s not enough to cause the Valiants any issues as they climb the table.