Port Vale will be looking to maintain December's unbeaten start, when we visit the Banks’s Stadium to take on Walsall. You can find all of the key information regarding the game, below.
Fixture: Walsall vs Port Vale
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Date: Saturday 19th December
Kick-Off: 3:00 pm
Venue: Banks’s Stadium
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Port Vale
Manager: John Askey
Form: LLWDD
Top Goal Scorer: Devante Rodney (4 Goals)
The Valiants started the month in style, with back to back wins over Bolton Wanderers and the Wolves under-21’s, and have maintained performance levels with impressive displays against high-flying sides Colchester United and Forest Green Rovers.
Despite being held to draws in the last two fixtures, the Valiants will be full of confidence from recent games and will be hoping to secure all three points this weekend against local opposition.
John Askey will be without both Mark Cullen, David Worrall and James Gibbons for the game as they remain sidelined with injuries, with Cristian Montano and Manny Oyeleke doubts after missing out in the week. Other than that the gaffer has a fully fit squad to choose from.
“We’re playing well, anyone who’s watched the games can see that, we haven’t converted our chances and that’s the one thing that’s lacking, but in regards of how we’re playing, against Forest Green, that was probably as well as we’ve played this season.”
John Askey, Port Vale Manager
Walsall
Manager: Darrell Clarke
Form: DDWWW
Top Goal Scorer: Elijah Adebayo (8 Goals)
After four defeats on the bounce in all competitions in November, the Saddlers picked up a point away at league leaders Newport County which turned their form around and they are now six games unbeaten.
Their unbeaten from also sees them head into tomorrow’s clash having won their last three fixtures against Tranmere Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Oldham Athletic, resulting in them climbing to 11th in the table.
One to watch: Elijah Adebayo
Adebayo has been the star man for the Saddlers since he arrived at the Banks’s Stadium in June 2019 following his release from Fulham, where he had been since signing for their under-9 side, with him already matching his goal tally from last season of eight goals.
His senior career got off to an impressive start, bagging a hat-trick on his debut whilst on loan at Slough in 2016, a brief stint that saw him net five times in seven outings.
The powerful forward who stands at 6’4” then looked to carry his form into his next loan with Cheltenham Town, where he scored twice in his seven appearances for the club.
After further loans to Swindon Town and Stevenage, Adebayo was released by his parent club and picked up by Walsall where he found the net eight times last campaign, including goals in both games against the Vale.
Talk:
John Askey: “The players are confident, hopefully we can keep creating as many chances as we are doing… we know whoever we play we’re in for a tough game and Walsall are a decent team.”
Darrell Clarke: “They were the team on form flying up there catching the top seven. They’ve got a similar squad to that with some improvement so Port Vale are going to be one of our tougher tests so far this season.”
Coverage:
iFollow The Vale will be providing full 90-minute coverage of the match for all domestic supporters, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.
To purchase an iFollow match pass click here.
There will also be the build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: @officialpvfc
Reaction will be available on the website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and our official social media channels.