Port Vale have the opportunity to progress to the Second Round of The Emirates FA Cup, when we take on National League side King’s Lynn at Vale Park on Saturday. You can find all of the key information regarding the game, below.
Fixture: Port Vale vs King’s Lynn
Competition: FA Cup
Date: Saturday 7th November
Kick-Off: 3:00 pm
Venue: Vale Park
Referee: David Richardson
Port Vale
Manager: John Askey
Form: WLWWW
Top Goal Scorer: Theo Robinson (4 Goals)
The Valiants will be hoping to make it to the Second Round of the FA Cup for the second year running, and build on the momentum generated from our last three league games, all of which have resulted in victory for the Vale.
Tom Pope’s 150th and 151st career goals helped the Valiants on our way to a 2-0 victory at Southend United last weekend, earning him a spot in the EFL Team of the Week, and he will be hoping that he can continue that form in our FA Cup First Round tie on Saturday.
Vale will be hoping to delve far into this competition much like last season, with memories of Pope’s hat-trick at Cheltenham Town and that headed goal at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City still fresh in the mind of many Valiants. If Vale do secure victory against the Linnets, it will be the first time the club has won four in a row since November 2015.
John Askey will be unable to pick Devante Rodney, David Fitzpatrick or Danny Whitehead for the game, whilst James Gibbons remains sidelined recovering well from a hamstring injury sustained in the Papa John’s Trophy victory over Wigan Athletic.
“You know as a staff member and as a group of players we’re well aware of how rewarding the FA Cup can be.”
Dave Kevan, Port Vale Assistant Manager
King’s Lynn
Manager: Ian Culverhouse
Form: LLLLW
Top Goal Scorer: Adam Marriott (3 goals)
King’s Lynn have had a mixed start to life in the National League, following their promotion from the National League North as champions last season, earning seven points in as many games in their league campaign so far.
Ian Culverhouse’s side have reached the FA Cup First Round in unusual circumstances this season, with their final preliminary game in the previous round of the competition cancelled, following their opponents, Notts County, having multiple Covid-19 cases throughout the squad, earning King’s Lynn a bye into the first round of the competition.
But despite being a division below the Valiants in the football pyramid, John Askey’s side will have to take our opponents very seriously in order to progress to the second round of the competition.
One to watch: Adam Marriott
The 29-year old striker has been with King’s Lynn since 2018, signing for the club when they were in the Southern League Premier Central, and being integral on their journey to the National League.
After playing for Norwich City and Cambridge United during his youth career, Marriott then signed on professional terms for the latter in 2009, making 56 appearances for the club before moving to Cambridge City ahead of the 2012-13 season.
Marriott has also had spells at, Stevenage, Lincoln City, Royston Town and Boston United before signing for King’s Lynn in 2018.
In his two years with the club, he has scored a remarkable 53 goals in 65 appearances, making him absolutely critical to their recent success over the last two seasons.
Talk:
Dave Kevan: “We know we’ve got a tough game tomorrow against King’s Lynn, they are a good side and have a good way of playing, so we need to make sure that we are at our very best tomorrow to allow us to experience a day again like we had last year.”
Ian Culverhouse: "The day is about going to a Football League club, a lovely stadium and trying to compete with them.”
Coverage:
iFollow The Vale will be providing full 90-minute coverage of the match for all domestic supporters, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.
To purchase an iFollow match pass click here.
There will also be the build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: @officialpvfc
Reaction will be available on the website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and our official social media channels.