We’re back at home on Saturday as we welcome Salford City to Vale Park.
We come into the game off the back of a 1-0 victory against Notts County last week. Ronan Curtis’ composed strike five minutes from time was enough to earn Vale all three points in front of the Sky cameras as we maintained our unbeaten league record in 2025
Gaffer's Thoughts
Here’s what Darren Moore had to say ahead of Saturday’s fixture:
“Our last performance is gone. We’ve got a real different test and a different opposition on Saturday. It’s a team that’s very, very different when we played them at the start of the season. Different in so many ways in each department. It’s a game that we’ve got to be really ready for, like we have been for all the games this season.”
The Opposition
Salford City currently sit in 8th place in Skybet League Two with 48 points. They come into the game with one win in their last seven games. Prior to this, they had won six games in a row before an 8-0 thumping by Manchester City started a poor run of form for the Ammies.
In their last outing, they were beaten 1-0 by AFC Wimbledon. Matty Stevens’ second half winner was enough to separate the sides in South West London.
Salford have a decent record on the road this season. In their 13 games away from home they have won four, lost four and drawn seven. Their last away win came earlier this year when they beat MK Dons on the 4th January.
Who’s in Charge?
Former MK Dons manager Karl Robinson is in charge of Salford City after he took the reins in January 2024 following the departure of Neil Wood. The former Kidsgrove Athletic player joined the football club after leaving Leeds United where he was part of their first team coaching staff.
Robinson didn’t have the greatest start to life as Salford City manager as he was sent off in his dugout debut against Forest Green Rovers after just 14 minutes when he interfered with a throw-in. His side went on to draw the game 2-2 which earnt Robinson his first point out of 28 that he would pick in the 2023/24 season.
Karl Robinson is joined in the dugout by Alex Bruce which further strengthens the link between Salford City and Manchester United. Robinson has taken charge of 59 Salford City games and in this time he has won 23, drawn 16 and lost 20.
Player to Watch
Experienced EFL forward Cole Stockton leads the line for Salford. So far this season, Stockton has found the net eleven times and got two assists in all competitions. Stockton is partnered up front by Hakeeb Adelukun, the former Scunthorpe United and Lincoln City forward joined the Ammies in the summer and has scored seven goals in his 17 appearances this season.
Centre back Stephen Negru has had an excellent season so far with the Ammies. The Oxford United loanee impressed in their first half of the season. So much so that he was recalled by the Championship club. However, he was then loaned back out to Salford a few weeks later. Negru has started 21 of his his sides 25 league games.
Last Time We Met
Salford City 0-2 Port Vale, Saturday 10th August 2024
The sides met on the opening day of the 2024/25 season and it was the Valiants who came away with the three points to kick off the season with a win.
After blowing away with the early season cobwebs, Vale went ahead in first half added time. Ben Heneghan met Ronan Curtis’ corner with a powerful header which was saved by the Salford keeper, before Ben Garrity reacted quickest to poke home from close range.
Just after the hour mark Garrity added his, and his sides second of the game when another Ronan Curtis corner caused havoc in the Salford box before being headed home by the Vale skipper.
Ten days later, the sides met in the EFL Trophy group stage at the Peninsula Stadium. Second half goals from Ruari Paton and Diamond Edwards were enough to earn Vale another 2-0 win at Salford and pick up all three points in Northern Group B
