Another trip to Cambridgeshire is in store for the Valiants as we face Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One action.
Saturday’s hosts are currently sitting 18th in the table, whilst Vale sit two places above them in 16th position.
Here is some interesting pre-match reading before the fascinating clash against United this weekend.
The view from Darrell Clarke:
“Anybody will tell you that when you come up against Cambridge, you are going to be in for a difficult game," said Darrell Clarke
"Watching their games, as me and my coaching staff have done, we know we are going to be in for a tough test.”
Opposition’s Boss' thoughts
Mark Bonner said: “They’re [Vale] a high-running team, high-crossing team, high-pressing team so we know we’ll have to be physically committed to the game, ready for the duels and the fight and scrap that it takes to be competitive.
"We’ll have to bring our own periods of control as well.
“An interesting, difficult game, and it’s up to us to create an atmosphere and inspire each other with our performance levels.”
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet League Two, Vale Park, Saturday 4th August 2018: Port Vale 3-0 Cambridge United
We travel back four years to an emphatic victory over this week’s opposition on the opening day of the 2018/19 season.
Ricky Miller’s first-half free kick sent the Valiants on their way before Tom Pope bagged a brace to secure a 3-0 win and all three points against Cambridge United.
Miller opened the scoring on his debut just before the break, curling a beautiful free kick into the far corner to send Vale Park into raptures.
It didn’t take long for the Vale to further their advantage following the restart with Miller involved once more, after he was fouled inside the area after some tidy build-up play with Tom Pope.
Our number nine then stepped up for the spot-kick and rifled it into the back of the net with real velocity to double the Valiants' advantage.
Pope secured his brace and the victory when he met a Cristian Montano cross with a downwards header that nestled into the corner to make it 3-0.
Cambridge had the first opportunity of the afternoon on eight minutes as Ade Azeez headed wide from close range, a real wake-up call for the Vale.
The Valiants soon began to threaten up the other end though, with Miller almost beating David Forde to a David Worrall cross two minutes later, only for the goalkeeper to claim and relieve the danger.
Azeez then turned a George Maris free-kick towards the goal via an outstretched leg up the other end on 18 minutes, but his effort was comfortable for Brown.
Following what was a nervy opening from both sides, James Gibbons’ cross was met by a Pope flick-on, but Rawlinson failed to make clean contact with his half-volley, and it skewed wide of the target from 12 yards.
Pope was the next to go close for the hosts after 34 minutes as he attacked a floated free kick, but he could not direct his header from six yards as he attempted to keep his balance.
After the two Vale goals, Pope almost doubled his own tally after 58 minutes, but he could only head Luke Hannant’s pinpoint cross wide.
Cambridge then thought they had pulled a goal back just a minute later, only for Brown to deny Azeez from point-blank range.
As the half wore on, Vale gained more control, and they went inches away from stretching their lead to three in the 67thminute when Pope and Hannant combined to pick out Luke Joyce who forced Forde into a smart save.
However, the rebound fell to Hannant and his powerful drive dropped narrowly wide of the post from 25 yards, a great opportunity for the Valiants.
With Pope hungry for a hat-trick, Worrall threaded him through on goal again on 73 minutes and he was denied by a low save from Forde.
The match ended 3-0 and the Vale started their season in perfect fashion, a campaign that saw us survive in 20th place in a tough season.
Port Vale | Brown, Gibbons, Smith, Rawlinson, Montano, Worrall, Oyeleke (Tonge 73), Joyce, Hannant, Pope, Miller (Dodds 74).
Unused Subs | Hornby, Legge, Vassell, Quigley, Kanu.
Cambridge United | Forde, Carroll, Taft, Taylor, Deegan, Amoo (Osadebe 73), Azeez, Dunk (Corr 65), Davies, Maris, Lambe (O’Neil 83).
Unused Subs | Mitov, Darling, Knowles, John.
Last Time Out (League):
Sky Bet League One, The Abbey Stadium, Saturday 15th October 2022: Cambridge United 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Cambridge United suffered their fourth league defeat on the bounce as Lee Gregory's brace secured Sheffield Wednesday all three points at the Abbey Stadium.
Gregory netted a beautiful dink just six minutes into the match to put the Owls ahead when he ran onto Tyreeq Bakinson's ball out of defence and broke through the defence before finishing delicately.
Wednesday made the game safe 13 minutes from time when Gregory grabbed his brace via a brilliant volley from Liam Palmer's cross.
The hosts came close to responding to Gregory’s first, but Sam Smith managed to get in the way of his teammate Lewis Simper’s ferocious strike from distance, to send it wide.
Smith then came alive and forced David Stockdale into saving with his legs after he drove in from the byline and produced a strong effort.
However, the visitors regained control, and Michael Smith came close to doubling his side's lead in the first half when Dimitar Mitov had to get down to his near post to force the striker’s effort wide.
Smith was then involved again, and he missed a big chance five minutes before the interval when Josh Windass sent a teasing cross to the 31-year-old, but he could only send his header straight into the keeper’s hands.
Wednesday continued to push and Gregory nearly netted his brace earlier than he did, but Greg Taylor produced a fabulous block to deny him.
U’s Team news:
In some sad news, Bonner confirmed Adam May will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his ACL.
Dimitar Mitov is also out for an extended period of time due to injury, and Brandon Haunstrup will also sit out of this one.
Form: LLLLW
01/10/22: Cambridge United 0-2 Derby County, Sky Bet League One
04/10/22: Ipswich Town 3-0 Cambridge United, Sky Bet League One
08/10/22: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Cambridge United, Sky Bet League One
15/10/22: Cambridge United 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday, Sky Bet League One
18/10/22: Cambridge United 1-0 Ipswich Town, Papa Johns Trophy