Tomorrow the Valiants continue their search for their first away victory of the 2019/20 league campaign, taking on Exeter City. With the fixture just a day away, we look back on two classic matches that the Vale have played against the Grecians at St James Park.

League 2, St James Park, Saturday 6th October 2012: Exeter City 0 – 2 Port Vale

Vale went into the game having won two of their last four matches and were sat second from top in the league.

Just five minutes into the game Tom Pope got on the end of a Jennison Myrie-Williams cross to head the ball past Rhys Evans and give the Valiants the lead, scoring his 10th goal of the season in the process. The goal made Pope the fastest Vale player to get 10 goals in a season since Tom Nolan in 1933.

The Vale had a difficult start to the second period as Doug Loft limped off after just six minutes before Steve Tully came close to bringing the hosts level when he hit the bar.

In the 62nd minute Vale were able to extend their lead when Pope grabbed his second goal of the game, again heading past Evans, this time from a Ashley Vincent cross. The win helped Vale in their successful promotion campaign.

Exeter – Evans, Tully (Sercombe 74), Woodman, Baldwin, Coles, Amankwaah, Oakley, Davies, Doherty (Keohane 68), Cureton, O’Flynn (Bauza 68) 

Subs not used – Krysiak, Moore-Taylor, Dawson, Nicholls.

Port Vale – Neal, Duffy, McDonald, McCombe. Taylor, Myrie-Williams (Lloyd 89), Loft (Burge 51), Morsy, Vincent (Shuker 85), Dodds, Pope

Subs not used - Johnson, Yates, Davis, Williamson

Attendance – 3,938

League Two, St James Park, Saturday 21st October 2017: Exeter City 0 – 1 Port Vale

Vale went into the game 22nd in the league, whilst Exeter were 3rd and battling for promotion.

Vale were under new management with ex-player Neil Aspin taking charge and has won their last two games on the bounce.

Vale went in front after 25 minutes when Tom Pope scored his seventh goal of the season in as many games, converting from a David Worrall cross.

The conditions for the game were difficult as Storm Brian was causing havoc throughout the UK, and Exeter thought they had equalised via Reuben Reid but the gaol was disallowed.

Vale came close to doubling their lead Worrall mis-hit an effort and Tyrone Barnett skied an effort over the bar, but the Vale were able to comfortably see out the win and went on to avoid the drop that season.

Exeter – Pym, Sweeney, Moore-Taylor, Moxey (Sparkes 89), Brown, James, Taylor, Boateng, Stockley, Edwards (McAlinden 72), Reid (Jay 88)

Subs not used – Hamon, Archibald-Henville, Wilson, Byrne 

Port Vale – Roos, Gibbons, Anderson, Smith, Gunning, Worrall, Harness (Barnett 73), Kay, Pugh, Whitfield (Montano 57), Pope

Subs not used – Boot, Davis, Reeves, Stobbs, Turner

Attendance – 4,258