Port Vale face table-toppers Exeter City this evening as we head to St James Park looking for our first away win of the season. The Valiants travel to Exeter on the back of an excellent win at the weekend and you can find all the key information for tonights game, below.
Fixture: Exeter City vs Port Vale
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Kick-Off: 19:45
Venue: St James Park
Referee: Alan Young
Port Vale
Manager: John Askey
Form: DDWLWLW
Top Goal Scorer(s): Richie Bennett (3 goals)
Port Vale couldn't have started this run of tough games any better than with a win against Plymouth Argyle at the weekend. Nathan Smith's winner 15 minutes from time was enough to secure Vale a brilliant three points against a team tipped for promotion, and make it four wins in four at home in all competitions.
With that win behind them, the teams focus turns to Exeter City this evening as we look to pick up our first away win of the season against the undefeated Grecians. The last time Vale won at St James Park was back in 2017, when captain Tom Pope scored the only goal of the game.
The win at the weekend came at a cost for John Askey and his side however. Unbelievably, Vale were forced to use all three substitutions before the half an hour mark due to injuries. David Amoo (hamstring), Tom Conlon (knee) and Callum Evans (hamstring), are all set to miss out this evening after picking up injuries at the weekend.
“It’s credit to the lads to keep going and I think it was probably Plymouth who were tiring more towards the end and if we do that every week we’ll come away with a lot more wins than loses.”
Nathan Smith, Port Vale defender
Exeter City
Manager: Matt Taylor
Form: DDWWWD
Top Goal Scorer(s): Nicky Law (4 goals)
The Grecians have started the season in fine form and currently sit top of the table after eight league games. Matt Taylor's side haven't lost a league game since Easter Weekend in April, where Crawley Town picked up a 3-1 win.
Exeter looked set to suffer defeat for the first time this season at the weekend when they hosted Leyton Orient. Trailing 2-1 and heading into stoppage time Exeter were awarded a late penalty, one which top goalscorer Nicky Law converted to keep the momentum going for Matt Taylor's side.
Nicky Ajose looks set to miss the fixture as he awaits the results of a scan on a knee injury. The summer signing suffered the injury in training last Tuesday and missed the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient. There is no indication of when the 27-year-old will be back in action, as Taylor confirmed it doesn't look likely he will be available to feature this evening.
"So a lot gets talked about late goals and comebacks, but it is football. We can’t always tag it as spirit and character. They are good lads. They try hard and they try and win games of football and they try and score goals and they will make mistakes because they are not perfect, but it is what you expect from a group of players.
Matt Taylor, Exeter City manager.
One To Watch: Nicky Law
A player with plenty of pedigree behind him, midfielder Nicky Law will be one the Valiants will have to keep an eye on when we face the Grecians this evening.
Exeter's top goal scorer with four goals so far this season, Law has popped up with some important goals in this current campaign, most recently at the weekend when his last minute penalty against Leyton Orient extended their unbeaten run in the league to eight games this season.
The 31 year old brings plenty of experience to the Exeter City squad, having played for over three years at Rangers as well as spells at Rotherham, Bradford City and Motherwell.
Talk:
John Askey: “We’ve got to take each game as they come and that’ll give us confidence going in to the Exeter game, we can enjoy that, but everything now is geared towards playing Exeter.”
Dave Kevan: "We've been very positive all season in terms of how we go into games and tomorrow will be no different."
Coverage:
iFollow The Vale will be providing a live broadcast of the match including a full 90-minute commentary. A match pass to watch the game LIVE can be purchased here for just £10, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.
There will also be the build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: officialpvfc
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.