Match Preview - Rovers v Port Vale

6 December 2021

Rovers welcome Port Vale to the Mem for our latest midweek league fixture.

Rovers face former Gas boss, Darrell Clarke's Port Vale on Tuesday night at the Mem (7:45pm KO). Rovers head into the Sky Bet League Two game off the back of our Emirates FA Cup second round victory against Sutton United. Below is all the need to know information ahead of the game.

Coach's Preview

First-Team Coach, Andy Mangan has said that Rovers have to expect a tough test when The Valiants come to the Mem.

"Some of the signings Port Vale have made have been shrewd. Ben Garrity, for example, is a really good player at this level and an absolute running machine, who arrives in the box well and will get goals from midfield.

We know they have got some great players, mixed with a bit of experience.

It will be another test for us, in front of our own fans, who have been fantastic. We take on the responsibility to get our supporters singing and backing us like they have been doing in recent weeks and Tuesday's fixture has the making of a really great game."

Form Guide

Rovers are looking to make it five home games unbeaten on Tuesday evening. Rovers haven't lost at home since the visit of Newport County in October. Rovers have also scored in 12 consecutive home games this season with 13 different goalscorers.

Darrell Clarke's Port Vale currently sit in 5th place in the Sky Bet League Two standings with 32 points from 19 games so far this season. The visitors also joined Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup third round draw by beating Burton Albion at The Pirelli Stadium.

In their last six league games, The Valiants have picked up three wins, a draw and two defeats with their duo of defeats coming against Oldham Athletic and Walsall.

Jamie Proctor is Port Vale's leading marksman so far this season. In the Sky Bet League Two, Proctor has found the net on six occasions. On average, 1.1 of Proctor's shots are taken inside the penalty area.

David Amoo and Tom Conlon are level with each other on four assists for Darrell Clarke's team this season.

Ref Watch

Craig Hicks is the man in charge of Tuesday's clash. Hick's last officiated a Rovers game in the 2020/2021 season in our 0-1 away loss to Crewe Alexandra. So far this season, Hick's has taken command of four fixtures in the Sky Bet League Two where he averages 26.50 fouls per game. In the Sky Bet League Two, Hick's averages 3.75 yellow cards per game and 0.25 red cards per game.

Betting Preview

EFL sponsors, Sky Bet have priced Rovers at 13/8 for the win on Tuesday evening. On the goal-scorer markets, Aaron Collins is priced at 6/1 to open the scoring on Tuesday. Harry Anderson can be back at 7/2 to score at any time in the match.

To bet with Sky Bet please click HERE. Please bet responsibly.

How to Watch

Tuesday's game is available to watch worldwide on iFollow!

Match passes for the game cost £10 - with the majority of the revenue generated coming back to the football club.

To purchase a match pass - please click HERE.

Match Reports

Match Report - Rovers 1-2 Port Vale

7 December 2021

Rovers finished the game with nine men as two first-half goals saw the visitors claim the spoils in a stormy affair.

The Gas named an unchanged side after Saturday’s FA Cup win over Sutton. Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke was given a standing ovation by the home crowd and embraced Joey Barton as both managers took to the dugout to shelter from the driving rain.

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Defending the Thatchers End, Rovers were looking to score in the 13^th consecutive home game this season. But it was Gas ’keeper Belshaw who was called into action first, parrying a shot from Devante Rodney, before the offside flag was raised.

Vale should have opened the scoring in the eighth minute, however, as Politic was afforded time and space 15 yards out, but fired straight at Belshaw, before skying the rebound wide. Play went straight up the other end and Evans burst into the Vale box but his goalbound shot hit team-mate Collins and went behind for a goal kick.

Rovers were enjoying a spell of possession now as the rain finally eased up, but disaster struck in the 14^th minute. Vale captain Conlon fell to the floor after an off-the-ball incident and Sam Finley was shown a straight red card – Rovers’ sixth dismissal of the season.

Rovers now faced an uphill battle against high-flying Vale. However, they could have taken the lead just a minute later as Harry Anderson drilled a right-footed shot agonisingly wide of Stone’s left-hand post from 15 yards.

Ten-man Rovers then won a free-kick on the right flank in the 26^th minute and Evans’ beautiful delivery was headed over from five yards by Connor Taylor as another glorious chance went begging.

Referee Hicks then awarded Vale a free-kick in the 30^th minute. Conlon’s delivery was met by the unmarked Ben Garrity, and his volley went in off the underside of the bar to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Garrity soon made it two, sliding in at the near post to finish off a cross from Lewis Cass in the 33^rd minute. It was almost three in the 37^th minute after Coutts surrendered possession and Conlon chanced his arm with a shot from fully 35 yards out that Belshaw pushed behind for a corner kick.

Politic then blazed over for the visitors dressed all in black, who were now dominating possession as the half drew to a close. Rovers began the second half by bringing Trevor Clarke on for Antony Evans, the substitute lining up at left-back, with Anderton moving into a back three alongside Taylor and Harries.

The wind was howling around The Mem now as Rovers struggled to make any early inroads into a Port Vale side in front of their 245 travelling fans.

Then, from nowhere, Aaron Collins struck with his first league goal of the season, with a left-footed strike that took a slight deflection and flew past Stone.

Defender Jones was then booked for obstructing Collins as the Gas turned up the heat, looking to draw level. Nicholson showed some nice skill to work a crossing position, but Clarke couldn’t convert, before the substitute went to ground in the next attack, referee Hicks waving away furious appeals for a penalty.

Straight up the other end, Cian Harries was shown a straight red in the 76^th minute for a high tackle on Garrity. From the resulting free-kick, Vale skipper Conlon fired straight into the Rovers wall.

For the second time this season, the Gas had to play out the remainder of the game with nine men. Brett Pitman came on for Coutts in the 81^st minute as the home side looked to salvage an unlikely point.

Vale came close to a third, after a Conlon free-kick was acrobatically tipped over by Belshaw; Whelan was shown a yellow card for the challenge. Referee Hicks had the final word of the evening, showing Pitman a yellow card after the full-time whistle had blown.

Next up for Rovers is this weekend's visit of Rochdale to the Mem. (3pm KO)

Rovers: Belshaw, Finley, Collins, Nicholson (Spence 79), Coutts (Pitman 81), Anderton, Taylor, Anderson, Evans (Clarke 45), Harries, Whelan.

Subs: Ward, Thomas, Westbrooke, Martinez, Clarke, Spence, Pitman.

Port Vale: Stone, Gibbons, Jones, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Conlon, Rodney (Walker 51), Politic (Burgess 90), Pett, Cass.

Subs: Covolan, Walker, Legge, Benning, Martin, Amos, Burgess.

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 6,071