Vale return down south this Saturday with Bristol Rovers the team in waiting for Darrell Clarke’s in form side.
With both the Gas and Vale gaining promotion last season, both teams are doing extremely well in the third tier with tomorrow’s hosts currently sitting in 15th, whilst the mighty Vale lie in 9th.
It is sure to be an exciting clash down at the Mem tomorrow night, here is some interesting pre-match reading before we travel down the M5 tomorrow.
The view from Darrell Clarke:
“It will be a good game to watch; two good teams having a go at each other,” Darrell Clarke said.
“The league is competitive, they have had a great run of form like ourselves, one or two hiccups but other than that their home form has been very consistent, and they have different ways of playing.”
Opposition Coaches thoughts
Rovers first-team coach, Andy Mangan, said to https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/: “[Vale are] a really good opponent, [they] came up with us last season, done ever so well, acquitted themselves superbly in League One.
“It will be a tough game, Darrell’s [Clarke] got them going just like last season, really strong, and they have improved from last year.”
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet League Two, Vale Park, Tuesday 20th November 2012: Port Vale 4-0 Bristol Rovers
A decade ago, Tom Pope was in the form of his life, and when the Gas came to town, he lit up Vale Park with a hattrick as the Valiants secured a 4-0 win.
The Vale legend’s goals meant he became the quickest Valiant ever to net 20 goals in a season when he netted twice in the first half and once in the second with Ben Williamson also grabbing a goal.
Pope opened the scoring for the Valiants after 20 minutes with a sublime strike from 18 yards after he took down a long ball.
It didn’t take long for the striker to add his and Vale’s second of the match as he finished Ashley Vincent’s venomous cross.
Vale got their third ten minutes before the break, but this time it wasn’t Pope with the finish, it was his strike partner Williamson on hand to finish a strong move.
However, Pope did secure his hat trick in the second half with just over 20 minutes to go, netting a spectacular header from 16 yards out.
The former Valiant carried on his form throughout that season as we secured promotion to League One during the 2012/13 campaign, a brilliant achievement.
Last Time Out (League):
Sky Bet League One, The University of Bolton Stadium, Friday 2nd December 2022: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Bristol Rovers
The Gas had to settle for just a point in Greater Manchester after Dion Charles netted a stoppage-time equaliser to cancel out Josh Coburn's early strike.
Coburn fired Rovers ahead just two minutes into the match with the 19-year-old loanee latching on to an Anthony Evans low cross to slide home from close range.
However, just when the visitors thought they were coming away with the three points, Charles produced a brilliant curling effort into the top right corner to earn Wanderers a point.
Despite Rovers’ early goal, it was Bolton who had most of the ball and chances throughout the match, with Charles squandering a chance to level earlier in the second period after he couldn’t convert a one-on-one.
Although the Gas would have been disappointed, they did not collect all three points, the result means they have lost just one in their last 10 matches, and they will be a tough side to face when Vale travel to the Mem on Saturday afternoon.
Gas’ Team news:
Harry Anderson is in contention of returning to action for the Gas after five weeks on the sidelines, and it seems as though Rovers will have a close to fully fit squad for Saturday’s clash.
Form: DWWLD
12/11/22: Bristol Rovers 2-2 Fleetwood Town, Sky Bet League One
19/11/22: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Peterborough United, Sky Bet League One
23/11/22: Colchester United 1-2 Bristol Rovers, Papa Johns Trophy R32
27/11/22: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Boreham Wood, FA Cup
02/12/22: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Bristol Rovers, Sky Bet League One