The Valiants return to League One action on Saturday as we make the trip to Adams Park to face Wycombe Wanderers in our final away fixture of 2023.
The Vale will be looking for our third league win on the bounce after picking up wins against Exeter City and Wigan Athletic in our last two league fixtures.
Crosby’s comments
Here’s what the gaffer had to say ahead of Saturday's trip to Wycombe Wanderers:
“They have been on a difficult run. They changed formation last week for the first time in a while. They generally play three at the back, but they played four at the back last week against Derby and sat in a low block and made it difficult for Derby. Then they scored right at the end with a penalty.”
“They have a lot of experienced players in their team, some of them have played Championship and higher. We are aware of their strengths, but it is more about us building on the momentum we have built in these last couple of (league) games. We have won games in different ways. At Exeter, we had to defend for long periods, they dominated the ball that day. Then last Saturday in my opinion it was the best performance of the season.”
The Opposition
Wycombe currently occupy 18th place in Sky Bet League One. They have amassed 23 points in their 20 games so far, two points fewer than the Vale.
They come into the game without a league win since Saturday 7th October when they beat Fleetwood Town 4-1. Last weekend, they did pick up a valuable point as they drew 1-1 at Derby County. The hosts took the lead in the 83rd minute through Tom Barkhuizen but Luke Leahy levelled the scores in the 98th minute when he converted a spot kick to earn them a point in dramatic fashion.
They are managed by a Wycombe legend in Matt Bloomfield who played 488 appearances for The Chairboys in a career that spanned just under 20 years at Adams Park. Bloomfield took over the reins when club legend Gareth Ainsworth left the club to join QPR in February 2023.
Player to Watch - Luke Leahy
The Wycombe central midfielder has got 10 goal involvements in 18 games so far this season, he’s picked up 4 goals and 6 assists. Leahy made the move to Wycombe in the summer where he joined from Shrewsbury Town after making over 100 appearances for the Shropshire club.
Another player to watch is experienced forward, Lyle Taylor, who joined Wycombe last month after being a free agent.
Fixture Throwback
Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Port Vale, Saturday 24th April 2013.
After All but securing promotion the previous week, The Valiants travelled to Adams Park knowing that Cheltenham would have to create 28 goal swing in order for them to leapfrog Vale into the automatic promotion spots. Despite promotion being basically secured, Rotherham and the Vale were battling for 2nd & 3rd place in the final standings.
Wycombe took the lead early on when Dean Morgan dispatched a penalty in the 30th minute after Chris Neal fouled Sam Wood in the box, but despite being behind, it was very much party time for the travelling valiants.
Lee Hughes sent the away end into raptures in the 79th minute when he headed home from close range to level the scores and officially confirm Micky Adams' side promotion from League Two for the first time in five years.