Port Vale will be aiming to make it two wins from two in the Checkatrade Trophy when Middlesbrough U21s make the trip to Vale Park on Tuesday night, and you can find all of the key information ahead of the clash below..
Fixture: Port Vale v Middlesbrough U21s
Date: Tuesday 16th October 2018
Kick-Off: 7:45pm
Competition: Checkatrade Trophy
Venue: Vale Park
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Port Vale
Form: LLDWWDLLWL
Top Scorer: Tom Pope (4 goals)
Following Saturday's humbling defeat at home to Lincoln City in Sky Bet League Two, the Valiants will be looking to bounce back with three points in the Checkatrade Trophy. Manager Neil Aspin has branded the match as an 'important' one as his players look for a response.
Last time out in this competition it was Vale who got off to the perfect start, beating Sky Bet League One side Burton Albion on home soil. Ricky Miller was introduced as a second-half substitute and he produced the only goal of the evening just three minutes after taking to the pitch.
Changes are expected to be made from the team that featured on Saturday, but the manager has limited options due to injuries. Cristian Montano, Manny Oyeleke and Scott Quigley all remain sidelined, whilst Tom Pope missed out at the weekend.
Middlesbrough U21s
Form: LWDLWLLL
Top Scorer: Tyrone O'Neill (3 goals)
Despite fielding an under 23s team in the Premier League 2, it will be an under 21s side that make the trip to Burslem for this fixture, but it will be a very similar squad of players to the one that featured in their last Checkatrade Trophy game.
They fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Walsall last Tuesday, stretching their winless run to three games after losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United in the PL2. Dan Ward scored Boro's only goal against the Saddlers, and he will be looking to have a positive influence again this time around.
One To Watch: Harry Chapman
Capped at international level for England in both the U18s and U20s age brackets, Chapman is a player who boasts plenty of potential. Now 20 years of age, he is a regular member of the Boro U21s and he will be looking to push for a place in the first team fold.
He has already featured during the senior squad this season having been involved in all three of Middlesbrough's Carabao Cup matches, and the midfielder provides a good option to Tony Pulis despite being yet to make his Sky Bet Championship debut.
Loan spells away from the Riverside Stadium have allowed him to gain Football League experience, however. He has represented Barnsley, Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers, all in Sky Bet League One, and he is one to keep an eye on.
Talk
Lee Nogan: "Whether you rest players or not, we want to do well in the competition as you saw last week against a good Burton team. We haven't conceded a goal and we won the game 1-0 so every game is different.
"Hopefully it's a one off (Lincoln City). You've seen that Newport and Crewe have been beaten by six already this year and they bounced back, and that's the type of league it is. I wouldn't want to dwell on it too much."
Paul Stephenson: "The lads will be up against older, stronger, more experienced players tonight, players who have been playing League football for a long time now.
"All I'm asking our lads to do is do what they did in the second half last week and if they do, they'll give themselves a chance in the game."
Coverage
Follow 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 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.