But striker would love to score the winning goal
As a former Crewe Alex player, Vale fan Tom Pope has mixed feelings about playing against the Alex this weekend, though if selected he will obviously take the professional approach.
He says: “It is hard to get in the right frame of mind, you are at a loss either way but you always try your best, obviously.
“It means a lot as a Vale fans playing against Crewe, but at the same time I am grateful for everything that Crewe did for me.
“It will be nice for me to go back there and see some of the lads and see people like Neil Baker and it will bring back the memories.”
Tom is one of only two players in the current squad to have scored for the Vale against Crewe, the other being Louis Dodds – what will it feel like to grab a goal on Saturday?
“The way we have been playing, we have been creating some chances these last few games so I think if we can go there and do as we have been doing it doesn’t make any difference who scores the goals.
“The forwards that we have got and the midfield quality we have got, anybody is capable of scoring goals this year and whoever the ball falls to will be eager to put it in the net.
“When I scored there the last time we played hem it was a bit special because it was just after they had gone in front and it is always nice to hit back after you have gone behind, but this weekend I hope I can get the winner.”
Everyone associated with the club are expecting a tough encounter with the Alex this weekend, despite their recent dip in form and the league position they find themselves in.
Pope says: “You have only got to look at them, they have got some good players. Obviously losing Luke Murphy and Ash Westwood in the last couple of years takes away some of the creativity from when they were doing well.
“They have struggled to replace them – everybody knows Crewe are a side who like to get the ball down and play and if you are not finding that creativity in the middle to make chances for your forwards you are going to struggle - and I think that is what is happening.
“They are going through a tough time, but knowing Neil Baker and knowing Steve Davies, they will make sure they will get the players right on Saturday.”