The Valiants have the chance to secure their third win a row this weekend, when they travel to Roots Hall to take on Southend United on Saturday. With the game just a few hours away, we look back on two classic matches that the Vale have played against the Shrimpers.
League Two, Roots Hall, Saturday 21st August 2010: Southend United 1-3 Port Vale
Port Vale maintained their unbeaten start to the new League Two season with a 3-1 victory over Southend at Roots Hall.
The Valiants couldn’t have dreamed of a better start, when after five minutes Marc Richards' pinpoint cross from the right picked out strike partner Justin Richards at the far post and he nodded home from a couple of yards out. Marc Richards then squandered two great chances to put Vale in total control. But the Valiants finally grabbed a second in the 54th minute following a break from a Southend corner. Gary Roberts released Sean Rigg but his initial shot was blocked by Craig Easton. The ball fell to Louis Dodds who tapped in at the near post as Sean Clohessy desperately tried to clear off the line. Vale made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute when Justin Richards passed to Marc Richards on the edge of the box and the striker unleashed a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Southend grabbed a consolation in the 88th minute when a Louie Soares free-kick was put into his own net by Gareth Owen.
Southend – Morris, Clohessy, Coughlan, Prosser (Phillips 46), Barker, Grant, Easton, Zaaboub (Corr 57), Soares, Paterson, Sturrock (Spencer 69)
Subs not used – Evans, Mohsni, Simpson, Hall
Port Vale – Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Owen, Collins, Griffith, Rigg (R.Taylor 82), Roberts, Dodds (Bell-Baggie 85), M.Richards (Malbon 89), J.Richards
Subs not used – Johnson, Fraser, K. Taylor, Morsy
Att. 4,946
League One, Roots Hall, Saturday 5th August 2005: Southend United 1-2 Port Vale
It was the opening day of the season and it only took Vale 12 minutes to score their first goal of the season when Micky Cummins sent over a cross from the right and debutant striker Nathan Lowndes found the net from close range. Vale were knocking it about really well and doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Sam Collins sprayed a 40 yard pass out to Mark Innes on the left and he did well before crossing and Lowndes was in the mark again from eight yards.
Southend hit back after the break and pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute when former Vale loan striker Wayne Gray scored with an overhead kick. Vale held on for the three points though.
Southend: Flahavan, Jupp, Prior (Hunt 75), Barrett, Wilson, Guttridge (Gower 60), Maher, Bentley, Cole (Lawson 83), Eastwood, Gray.
Subs Not Used: Pettefer, Griemink.
Port Vale: Goodlad, Abbey, Pilkington, Collins, Bell (James 73), Cummins, Sonner (Birchall 79), Dinning, Innes, Lowndes (Sam 87), Paynter.
Subs Not Used: Brain, Rowland.
Att: 6,543