PREVIEW – Oldham Athletic v Port Vale
Date – Tuesday 29th August 2017
Venue - Boundary Park
Preview
As Vale prepare for their second cup game on the road of the season, they will be looking to immediately bounce back from last weekends home defeat to rivals Crewe.
As the Checkatrade Trophy gets underway, Michael Brown will be looking to improve on last season’s performance and make it through to the knockout phase of the competition.
There is a possibility that the depth of Brown’s Vale squad could make an impact on tonight’s game, as he is aware of the home tie against Notts County on Saturday.
The Opposition
Having finished the 2016/17 Sky Bet League One season in 17th place, only four points off relegation, the Latics started the 2017/18 campaign with room for improvement, having not earned a point in four league games.
Defeats to Blackpool, Wigan, Walsall and Oxford in the league, and a defeat in the Carabao Cup to Burton Albion see the Latics winless in five for the season.
They will be looking for a win tonight in a bid to get their season up and running.
Talk
Michael Brown
“We will certainly be trying to win the game. It could be a tough side against us, it could be a slightly changed side. So it is very hard to call what sort of team is going to be up against you in this competition.”
John Sheridan
“I don't want to let the club down and the supporters down. They came in with a lot of belief this season and we just haven't started the way I wanted to start.
“I don't want it to drag on and drag on. Things need to improve in a lot of areas, but I'm only worried about the football pitch.”
Team News
Vale will still be without goalkeeper Rob Lainton, midfielder Danny Pugh, and strikers Tyrone Barnett and Anton Forrester.
Oldham are victims of an even longer injury list than Port Vale. With a total of nine players out due to injury, and a further two in Cameron Dummigan and Ryan McLaughlin who have been called up to the under-21 and full Northern Irish squads.
However, the Latics will welcome new loan-signing Jack Byrne from Wigan who is expected to go straight into the squad for tonight.
Coverage
The official Port Vale Twitter feed will be providing live updates for the entirety. There will also be build-up to the game with the official Instagram and Snapchat account: officialpvfc.
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.