Last Time We Met: Middlesbrough

Port Vale welcome Middlesbrough Under-21's to Burslem tomorrow evening in Checkatrade Trophy action, but what happened last time Vale played the Boro?

To relive the last time these two sides met, you'll have to cast your mind back to 1998, when Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough came out 1-0 victors in a First Division tie at Vale Park.

John Rudge's Port Vale were desperate for three points on the day as the Valiants flirted with relegation with just two games to play in the 1997/98 season.

The Boro came to Vale Park looking to take that step closer to automatic promotion, as Robson named a strong side for the league tie.

A single Paul Merson goal in front of 12,000 fans at Vale Park proved to be the difference as the Boro beat the Valiants 1-0 on the day.

Robson's side went onto gain promotion to the Premier League with 91 points, just three points behind champions, Nottingham Forest.

The Valiants narrowly avoided relegation by just one point as the Vale earned three points away to Huddersfield Town on the last day of the season to keep them up.