The new year will start down in Gloucestershire for the Valiants as we travel down to the South West to face Forest Green Rovers.
After both gaining promotion last season to League One, Vale currently sit on 32 points in 9th place in the table, whilst FGR are down in 23rd place on 20 points.
Before the two sides kick off the new year, here is some pre-match reading before the sides face off this weekend.
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet League Two, The Bolt New Lawn, Saturday 16th January 2021: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Port Vale
We only have to travel back two campaigns to this fixture, and it was Devante Rodney’s 76th-minute equaliser that was enough to secure Vale a deserved point at The New Lawn Stadium in this one.
Chris Stokes had given our hosts a first-half lead before Rodney’s wonderful second-half strike earned a well-earned 1-1 draw.
Forest Green took the lead just before the 20-minute mark when Nicky Cadden’s free-kick into the box sailed all the way to the back post before seemingly being glanced into the back of the net by Rovers’ skipper Chris Stokes.
However, a moment of magic from Devante Rodney pulled the Valiants level late on, when Conlon laid the ball off to the striker, who turned and curled an effort into the bottom right corner from 25 yards out.
The 2020/21 season was a tough one at times for the Valiants, but after Darrell Clarke came to steady the ship, Vale finished the season in 13th place.
Last Time Out (League):
Sky Bet League One, Bolt New Lawn, Thursday 29th December 2022: Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Burton Albion
Forest Green Rovers fell to their third league defeat on the spin to Burton Albion, as the Brewers came away from the Bolt New Lawn with a 2-1 win.
Goals from birthday boy John Brayford, and substitute Bobby Kamwa did the damage for the Staffordshire side despite Myles Peart-Harris’ stoppage-time consolation goal for Rovers.
Brayford gave the visitors the lead from a corner after the ball flew over Luke McGee for the skipper to nod home at the back post.
The Brewers' second goal didn’t come until the 89th minute, but it was very much needed when Kamwa netted a rebound from his own effort after McGee palmed the ball back into his path.
FGR did score late on through a Peart-Harris finish, but it was not enough for the home side as they did not have enough time to find an equaliser.
In the 66th minute, Rovers were given the chance to equalise, whilst the score was at 1-0, when Josh March was hacked down in the area.
However, Rovers’ skipper Jamille Matt could not convert the resulting penalty, with Bern Garratt managing to get down and beat the strike away.
Reverse Fixture:
Sky Bet League One, Vale Park, Saturday 15th October 2022: Port Vale 2-2 Forest Green Rovers
The Valiants had to come from two goals down late on to secure a point at home to Forest Green Rovers back In October.
Mipo Odubeko’s second goal for the club and an Ellis Harrison penalty with just two minutes to go ensured Vale got a point after two headed goals in the first half had put Forest Green 2-0 up.
The visitors struck first with their first attack, Myles Peart-Harris got on the end of a free-kick on the right-hand side to flick home a header just before the 15-minute mark.
Rovers doubled their lead in the 37th minute with a carbon copy of their first goal, but instead, the set piece came in from the left, and it was Baily Cargill who headed it home.
Substitute Odubeko grabbed a goal back for the Valiants with just over 10 minutes to go when he volleyed home from inside the box after McGee could only save a header into his path.
Then with four minutes to go, the Valiants were awarded a penalty after the ball seemingly hit a Rovers hand inside the area.
Harrison netted his seventh goal of the season, dispatching the resulting spot kick down the right-hand side.
Form: WWLLL
03/12/22: Forest Green Rovers 2-1 Cambridge United, Sky Bet League One
10/12/22: Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Cheltenham Town, Sky Bet League One
17/12/22: Derby County 4-0 Forest Green Rovers, Sky Bet League One
26/12/22: MK Dons 1-0 Forest Green Rovers, Sky Bet League One
29/12/22: Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Burton Albion, Sky Bet League One