Ipswich Town travel up to Vale Park to face the mighty Valiants on Tuesday night in Sky Bet League One action.
The visitors have started the season well, and they currently sit in second place in the table, only losing once on the road this season.
Vale are currently in 14th position in the table after a great win away at Cambridge United on Saturday, and if the Valiants grab a win on Tuesday night, they will see themselves catapulted up the table even more.
This is the first clash between the sides in 22 years, so before the two face off tonight here is some pre-match reading.
Opposition’s Boss thoughts:
Kieran McKenna on the Tuesday night clash: "They've [Vale] done well, I think even points-wise with their game in hand they're in a really good position.
"They are going to be a difficult team, they have physicality, they press well and try to be aggressive, and doing really well on their set plays, so it's going to be a good challenge.
"All in all, it's a Tuesday night game up at Port Vale, we know we're in for a fight and we're going to have to be right at it to get a result”
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet Championship, Vale Park, Saturday 15th February 1997: Port Vale 2-2 Ipswich Town
We travel back 25 years in today’s fixture flashback, with Vale sitting in 12th place in the Championship table whilst Tuesday night’s visitors, Ipswich, were 8th.
It was the Blues who took the lead just nine minutes into the contest through Paul Mason, an early blow for the Valiants.
Ipswich looked set to enter the break in the lead, however, Vale had other ideas, and they hit back through Lee Mills in the 40th minute.
The Valiants didn’t stop there though, and only three minutes later they went in front when Andy Porter beautifully tucked away a penalty.
After the interval, it was a tight encounter, as we battled to stay in front, and unfortunately in the 69th minute, the visitors hit back as Mick Stockwell found the back of the net.
The Vale would go on to finish eighth in the Championship that season, a good position for the Valiants.
Port Vale | Musselwhite, Hill, Aspin, Glover, Stokes, McCarthy, Bogie (Talbot), Porter, Guppy (Koordes), Mills, Naylor (Foyle)
Attendance | 6,115
Last Time Out (League):
Sky Bet League One, Portman Road, Friday 21st October 2022: Ipswich Town 1-0 Derby County
Ipswich Town got back to winning ways at Portman Road on Friday night as Wes Burns’ second-half strike downed Derby County.
Burns broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes to go, smashing home the rebound after Kayden Jackson’s earlier shot had come back off the post.
Jackson had the chance to double the lead for the hosts just 20 minutes later, but after being awarded a penalty, Joe Wildsmith saved the spot kick.
Earlier in the match, the Tractor boys thought they could have been awarded a penalty, but their appeals were turned down after Tyreece John-Jules went down in the area in a tussle with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
In a game with few clear-cut chances, Town thought they were about to take the lead just after the interval when Marcus Harness looked certain to score with a volley, but a Derby defender managed to produce a brilliant block.
The Blues got their goal, and despite the penalty miss late on, held on to claim all three points in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Tractor Boys Team news:
Sam Morsy will miss the clash at Vale Park due to suspensions, and Kane Vincent-Young will also be absent for the visitors due to a calf problem.
However, Cameron Burgess and Panutche Camara, may return for the Blues and make the squad that plays Vale.
Lee Evans is facing a race against time after he sustained an injury against Derby County at the weekend, but after scans, the visitors will know more about the problem.
Form: WWLLW
04/10/22: Ipswich Town 3-0 Cambridge United, Sky Bet League One
08/10/22: Morecambe 1-2 Ipswich Town, Sky Bet League One
15/10/22: Ipswich Town 0-1 Lincoln City, Sky Bet League One
18/10/22: Cambridge United 1-0 Ipswich Town, Papa John’s Trophy
21/10/22: Ipswich Town 1-0 Derby County, Sky Bet League One