Saturday see’s the Valiants take their first trip away from Vale Park this season, all the way down south into Devon as they face Exeter city at St James Park.
With this weekend’s hosts coming away from Lincolnshire with a point last weekend, and Vale securing all three points with a comeback win, it’s sure to be an enthralling encounter.
You can find interesting information on the fixture right here.
The view from Darrell Clarke:
“I look at it as three points, talented manager, real good football club,” explained Clarke.
“I’ve got a lot of time for Exeter as a football club, I think they’re run the right way, good fanbase.
“It’s always a tough game down Exeter to be honest with you, long trip down, but we will prepare right and make sure that we’re at it for that kick-off.”
Opposition’s Boss thoughts:
Exeter boss Matt Taylor said: “New pitch, new league, fans back in the stadium, hopefully they come in good numbers, I’m sure there will be enough away fans there to generate a good atmosphere.
“We are out to get some points this weekend, we learnt a lot about the group in their first outing at League One level.”
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet League Two, St James Park, Saturday 7th May 2022, Exeter City 0-1 Port Vale
How can we not return to that momentous day in May when James Wilson fired the Valiants into the play-offs, whilst also preventing the Grecians becoming champions of League Two.
Vale took the lead in the 36th minute with their first effort on goal through Wilson when he struck home after a nice headed lay off from fellow striker Jamie Proctor, sending the away end crazy.
It was the hosts who started the game strongly and they could have gone ahead in the early stages, but Exeter captain Matt Jay saw two headed efforts saved by Aiden Stone.
The Devon side came close to levelling just before half-time when Cheick Diabate climbed highest from a free kick to head wide, leaving the Valiants in front at the break.
The second half started strongly for the visitors and Connor Hall came close to doubling the lead, latching on to a Mal Benning corner, but his looping header fell just wide.
Once again Vale near secured a second goal with Wilson coming close to a completing a brace when he saw his shot well saved by Cameron Dawson after great build up from Proctor.
Jake Caprice went searching for an equaliser twice in the closing stages for the Grecians, but fortunately for the away side both efforts were no match for Stone.
Wilson so nearly finished the game off in style when his effort inside the area just went over the bar.
The miss meant nothing in the end though as Vale secured their play-off spot when the final whistle blew, and we all know what the team went on to do weeks later.
Exeter City | Dawson, Caprice, Stubbs (46’ Grounds), Jay (56’ Nombe), Collins, Key, Dieng, Zanzala (70’ Amond), J. Brown, Sweeney, Diabate
Subs not used | S. Brown, Sparkes, Kite, Coley
Port Vale | Stone, Gibbons, Hall, Smith, Garrity, Wilson (90+2’ Harratt), Proctor, Hussey (27’ Benning), Martin, Pett, Edmondson (61’ Taylor)
Subs not used | Covolan, Worrall, Amoo, Robinson