As Neil Aspin and his players prepare to face Newport County in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday, here is everything you need to know ahead of the fixture...
Fixture: Port Vale vs Newport County
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Date: Saturday 24th February 2018
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Venue: Vale Park
Preview
Port Vale will be hoping to avenge last weekend’s defeat at Swindon Town as the Exiles make the trip to Burslem from South Wales.
Still without a win in 2018, Neil Aspin’s men will be looking for an important set of three points on Saturday to pull them further away from danger in Sky Bet League Two.
When the Valiants travelled to Rodney Parade back in November the spoils were shared. Anton Forrester fires home a late equaliser on that occasion, but he and his teammates will want to go one better this time around.
The Opposition
Newport come into this game in disappointing form, with their last win in any competition coming back on the 19th of January when they edged past Crawley Town in Sky Bet League Two.
Despite that, the Exiles did show their class to earn an Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay with Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, a tie in which they fell to a 2-0 defeat.
Now lying 14th in the league, Newport’s early promise has dwindled somewhat. However, Michael Flynn’s men are still only eight points away from a play-off spot, so a win could rekindle their season.
One To Watch... Padraig Amond
The 29-year-old striker made the move to South Wales for an undisclosed fee in August 2017, leaving Hartlepool United with 14 goals to his name from 49 appearances.
Having began his career in his native Ireland, he has plenty of experience in the Football League with spells at Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Grimsby Town and Hartlepool.
So far this season, he has been an ever present in a Newport shirt, racking up 42 appearances in all competitions to date. During that time, he has scored on 12 occasions, including the goal which sent Tottenham Hotspur to an FA Cup replay.
Talk
Neil Aspin: “There is a lack of confidence and results when you're not winning games. It's difficult as a manager when you're not winning games and of course you feel the pressure, because we're all anxious to get that result.
“Until we get a win then that pressure will continue to build. We are desperate for a win but that desperation can't come across in a game, you've got to do your jobs properly and we've got to cut out the mistakes we make at the moment."
Michael Flynn: “They gave us a very tough game when they came here and they scored late in that match. They have an attitude that never says die and they only lost by a small margin to Swindon so it shows they have goals in them.
“It’s going to be a tough game, just because they are in the bottom half doesn’t mean we are entitled to get three points against them.”
Team News
Vale remain without long term absentees, Kjell Knops and Adam Yates, but Antony Kay also joins them on the treatment table as he will undergo an operation on a hernia.
David Worrall, Marcus Harness and Tyrone Barnett were all substituted through injuries during the clash with Swindon, meaning they could be doubtful for this game.
As for Newport, they will be without Scott Bennett as the defender continues to nurse a thigh strain that could keep him out of action for up to eight weeks.
Captain, Joss Labadie, is also ruled out after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season in last weekend’s draw with Notts County, meaning he will serve a two-match ban.
Coverage
Follow The Vale will be providing full 90 minute commentary from the match, while the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feed will be providing live updates for the entirety.
There will also be build-up to the game with the official Snapchat account: officialpvfc.
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.