The Valiants return to Vale Park on Saturday as we take on Charlton Athletic in League One action in our first home game of 2024.
Vale will be looking to kick start 2024 after suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat on New Year’s Day at Carlisle United.
Crosby’s Comments
Here’s what the gaffer had to say following our New Year’s Day loss:
“It was a lack of concentration in the 94th minute from a set play. We didn’t get set up right. Our organisation from set plays, our record from set plays, is the best in the league so to concede from that situation in the last minute is obviously very disappointing.”
“As I have said to the players, we have to get better. We collected 29 points in the first half of the season, and we have to improve on that. We are looking to make improvements and, if they are the level of quality isn’t within the group, well then we have to look at people outside that and can we get people in who are going to improve us.”
When looking ahead to Saturday’s fixture, Crosby added:
“They are in and around us in the league, as are Wycombe, as are Reading and then we finish of this month with Portsmouth. It’s four games which can guide us into the last third of the season, the transfer window will then close and we’ll assess where we are."
The Opposition:
Charlton Athletic currently sit in 14th place in the table, only above Vale on goal difference. They are winless in the league since Tuesday 28th November when they beat Cheltenham 2-1 thanks to Alfie May’s brace.
The Addicks come into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat against Oxford United. Chen Campbell gave Charlton the lead after just five minutes before Mark Harris and Oisin Smyth turned the game on its head and succumbed Charlton to their third defeat in a row.
Player to Watch - Alfie May
Since joining from Cheltenham Town in the summer, May has enjoyed a prolific start to life in League One. He is the league’s joint top scorer with fifteen goals already this season. May missed his side's last game with a minor back injury, so he may face a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s fixture.
Another player to catch the eye is Corey Blackett-Taylor, he has 13 goal involvements in 24 games this season. This includes seven goals and six assists, him and May have formed a formidable partnership that has caused teams issues all season.
Last Time We Met
Charlton Athletic 2-3 Port Vale. Saturday 19th August.
The hosts were awarded an early penalty inside the first ten minutes when Connor Ripley was adjudged to have bought down Daniel Kanu in the box. Alfie May stepped up and dispatched the penalty to put his side ahead.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Vale were level when James Wilson headed home Ethan Chislett’s deep free kick at the near post. One minute later Vale took the lead, Chislett chased a loose ball and forced a defensive error which allowed him to get In-behind and finish expertly to turn the game around in a matter of minutes.
Vale’s lead only lasted fifteen minutes as Kanu headed his side back onto level terms when he found the back of the net from just inside the box.
Following a Charlton corner, The Vale broke and when Josh Thomas took advantage of a defensive error, the Vale were in behind. Thomas regained possession and as he bared down on goal he found Funso Ojo who was on hand to slot home into the empty net and earn Vale all three points in what a rollercoaster of a game in South-East London.