The Valiants return to Vale Park on Saturday as we host AFC Wimbledon.
Ruari Paton’s second-half free-kick earned Vale all three points on Tuesday night as we beat Harrogate Town by a goal to nil.
This result keeps Vale at the top of the league and also maintains our ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Gaffer's Thoughts
Here’s what Darren Moore had to say following Tuesday night’s victory:
“I’m really pleased to come here and put on an away performance like that. It was difficult but credit to the boys again we found a different way of winning the game in what was a totally different game to what we faced on Saturday.”
The Gaffer also spoke ahead of Saturday’s fixture:
“It’s onto the next one which is at here against AFC Wimbledon in front of our home support at Vale Park, so we’re really looking forward to the game.”
“It’s another team who are in good form, they’ve shown wonderful progress under Johnnie (Jackson), he’s got them playing in the right manner, so it bodes well for another really exciting game”.
The Opposition
AFC Wimbledon sit in 10th place in League Two with 19 points from ten games. You could say the Dons are falsely placed in the league as they have played three games less than most sides due to international breaks and pitch troubles.
In midweek, Wimbledon won 3-0 against Morecambe at the Cherry Red Records stadium. All the goals came in the second half as the Dons stepped on the gas and ran riot against the league’s basement club.
Away from home, Wimbledon haven’t yet hit the heights of their perfect home record. They sit in 20th place in the away league table with four points from five games. Crucially, they have only scored one goal in these five games, this came against Cheltenham Town when they earned their only away victory of the season so far.
Player to Watch
Matty Stevens is the club's leading scorer with seven goals in all competitions this season. The former Forest Green striker has scored four goals in his last three games. However, three of these goals came in one game after he scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Carlisle United.
Stevens’ strike partner is Omar Bugiel and he has scored two goals and got on assist in his first ten league games this season.
Another player to keep an eye out for is former Vale centre back, Ryan Johnson. The 28-year-old only made eight appearances for the Vale before joining Stockport county where he helped them gain promotion. Johnson has since made the move to Wimbledon where he had made 47 appearances at the heart of the defence for the Dons.
Who’s in Charge?
Wimbledon are managed by former Charlton Athletic midfielder, Johnnie Jackson. The 42-year-old took charge of the club in May 2022 following the departure of Mark Robinson.
In his first season at the club, he won Manager of the Month in November 2022 before eventually leading his side to a 21st place finish in League Two. Last season, his Wimbledon side were much improved and finished 10th, just five points outside the Play Offs.
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 2-0 AFC Wimbledon, Saturday 1st April 2017
Saturday’s meeting between with the sides will be the first encounter for more than seven years. The last time the sides met was back in April 2017 and it was the Valiants who ran out 2-0 winners.
Vale took the lead in the 21st minute when Nathan Smith reacted first to convert a cross from close range following good work down the right from Chris Eagles.
The Valiants doubled their lead twenty minutes from time. Rigino Cicilia won the ball back on halfway and found Chris Eagles who drove at the Wimbledon defence before taking aim towards goal, his deflected strike looped over the keeper and hit the inside of the post to cap off an excellent Vale performance and earn the Valiants all three points at Vale Park.
