It’s back to league action for the Valiants on Saturday as we make the trip to the Priestfield Stadium to take on Gillingham.
After defeat in the FA Cup on Saturday, Darren Moore’s side will be looking to maintain our five-game win streak in Sky Bet League Two.
As it stands, Vale are the best side away from home in League Two. In our seven league games on the road we have won five, drawn one and lost one. We come into the game with three away wins in as many away games, all of which have been 1-0 victories.
Gaffers Thoughts
Here’s what Darren Moore had to say ahead of our trip to the Preistfield Stadium
“We’ve got a group of players who when they’ve been on the road have seen the challenge that presents itself playing away from home and stepping into your opponent's arena.”
“This is a different type of game on Saturday, it is a game that we have to be ready for. We’ve looked at the training week and how we’ve trained. I look at where the groups at, I like where the groups at. It’s been a solid week again and they understand that Saturday will be a difficult game, but what the players have been doing is performing to their maximum”
The Opposition:
The Gills will be hoping for a change of fortunes after last weekend's break from the league. They currently sit 11th in Skybet League One with 20 points from 14 games.
After a bright start to their campaign, Gillingham are winless in their last six games and have only picked up one point in these games.
At home, Gillingham have played seven games in which they’ve won four and lost three. Their three losses have come in the past three games in which they have been beaten by Grimsby Town, Accrington Stanley and Newport County.
Who’s in charge - Mark Bonner
Former Cambridge United manager Mark Bonner is the current Gillingham manager. After leaving Cambridge in November 2023, Bonner joined Gillingham in May 2024 with high expectations.
He managed to meet these expectations after an unbeaten August which saw him win Manager of the Month. However, his side haven’t lived up to these heights and have slipped down the table ever since. In Bonner’s 18 games in charge of Gillingham he’s won 6, drawn 2 and lost 10.
Player to watch
Jayden Clarke is a player who has caught the eye this season. The direct left sided player has scored four times for his side so far this season and has also grabbed himself one assist. Two of these goals came in his sides 3-0 victory over Tranmere when he scored twice in the last ten minutes to earn his side all three points.
Another player to watch is Timothee Dieng. The central midfielder has scored twice and got on assist from the heart of the Gillingham midfield. Dieng has only played seven games after missing a large chunk of the season through injury.
The Gills have been unlucky with injuries, Elliot Nevitt & Aaron Rowe both joined in the summer after helping Crewe Alexandra reach the Play-Off final. Both players are now injured. Another one on the treatment table is fan favourite, Bradley Dack. After making the move from Sunderland in the summer, Dack has made just one substitute appearance for the Gills in what has been a season riddled with injury.
Fixture Throwback
Gillingham 1-2 Port Vale, Saturday 12th January 2013.
In a season where both sides wound eventually get promoted, Vale travelled to Gillingham in January in a match what would see Vale leapfrog The Gills and go top of League Two.
Vale raced out of the blocks and took the lead in the 4th minute when Tom Pope scored a trademark goal when he rose highest to meet Richard Duffy’s cross with a powerful header. In the 20th minute, Vale’s lead was doubled when a cross from the right caused chaos in the Gillingham box before Lee Hughes powered the ball home from close range speak scenes of jubilation in the temporary away stand. However, the hosts replied instantly when Danny Kedwell emphatically halved the deficit with powerful strike that came directly from kick off.
In the second half, Gillingham pushed for a leveller but through a mix of Chris Neal and some heroic defending, The Valiants managed to hold on and secure a crucial three points in Kent.
