Port Vale will travel Moss Rose to take on Macclesfield Town this evening, as they look to make it two wins from two in this year’s Leasing.com group stage. After picking up a late draw at home to Mansfield Town last Saturday, the Valiants will be hoping they can get their first win on the road this season. You can find all of the key information regarding the game, below.
Fixture: Macclesfield Town vs Port Vale
Competition: Leasing.com Trophy
Date: Tuesday 24th September 2019
Kick-Off: 7:45 pm
Venue: Moss Rose
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Port Vale
Manager: John Askey
Form: DWLWLWLD
Top Goal Scorer(s): Richie Bennett and Nathan Smith (3 goals)
The Valiants will be hoping to get another three points in this year’s Leasing.com trophy group stage having previously defeated League One Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at home, thanks to goals from David Amoo and Jordan Archer.
The Vale are still searching for their first away win of the 2019/20 campaign and will be hoping that comes today, as they look to carry the momentum from Saturday's dramatic late draw against Mansfield Town into today's game where John Askey faces off against his former side who he helped gain promotion to League Two.
The gaffer has had to pick from a limited squad lately, with five injuries ahead of the Exeter clash and another two players coming off last week against Mansfield. There may be some good news however, with Amoo, Oyeleke and Archer all back in training and could possibly feature today. That aside, Askey has a fully fit squad to choose from.
“So we have got one or two coming back now, we’ll just have to see how the walking wounded are, and go from there on Monday.”
John Askey, Port Vale Manager
Macclesfield Town
Manager: Daryl McMahon
Form: WDWDLLDL
Top Goal Scorer(s): Theo Archlibald, Emmanuel Osadebe, Theo Vassell, Virgil Gomis, Joe Ironside and Ben Stephens (2 goals)
Much like the Vale, Macclesfield won their opening fixture of this years Leasing.com group stage, picking up a 2-1 win at home to the Newcastle United Under-21’s.
The Silkmen have struggled since that game however, going five games without a win as they head into today’s game, so will be desperate to try and get back to winning ways.
Unlike John Askey, Daryl McMahon has a almost fully fit squad to pick from tonight, meaning he will be able to experiment if desired. The only player unavailable is Jack McCourt, a midfielder who has been a mainstay in the side since arriving in the summer.
One to watch: Emmanuel Osadebe
The Irish attacking midfielder started out his career as part of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation College Programme in 2015, where he would go on to be picked up by Gillingham.
He debuted for the Gills that same year as they defeated Sheffield United 4-0 and Osadebe won Man of the Match and later that year would be awarded Gillingham’s goal of the season for a solo effort against Bury.
After two seasons at the Priestfield Stadium, he moved on to Cambridge United where he would then represent Newport County on loan before finally joining Macclesfield Town this summer.
At just 22-years-old, Osadebe, who was also called up to the Republic of Ireland at under-21 squad in 2015, has become a central figure at Moss Rose and has been able to find the back of the net twice already.
Talk:
John Askey: “We’ll have to have a look [at the squad] Monday, Manny’s [Oyeleke] going to be training Monday, David Amoo, Jordan Archer, although I think Jordan will be a little bit longer.”
Daryl McMahon: “I don’t want us to meander along like a mid-table team, I think we’ve got a chance to really develop across the season but the players have to want it too.”
Coverage:
iFollow The Vale will be providing full 90-minute commentary from the match, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.
There will also be the build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: officialpvfc
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.