Port Vale (h) - Easter Monday

[Lizard68]

Could be a tricky one this. Darren Moore has started to get them going with two wins in a row and no goals conceded.

I'm sure they'll bring a few with safety a real possibility. Out of interest what teams would we prefer to get relegated?

I think the current bottom four plus Burton will battle it out.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

The Valiants come to Sixfields for an Easter clash, sitting in 21st position a point from safety with seven games to play. They have won four times on their travels this season at Oxford, Charlton, Exeter and most recently at Burton last week. They have also won in cup competitions at Mansfield and Burton again.
A decent start to the season, aside from a 7-0 hammering on the opening day at Barnsley had them sitting in 2nd place in Mid September after seven games. However a 14 game winless run has seen them plunge towards the bottom of the table, threatening their two year stay in the third tier. It was in the mid-90's that Vale were an establish Championship level side averaging crowds of over 9000, they fell from that level in 2000 and have bounced around the bottom two tiers much like us since then.
Andy Crosby paid the price for that poor run in February, replaced by the experienced Darren Moore however he too saw no wins in his first eight games in charge, a run which was broken last week thanks to back to back wins over Burton and Bristol Rovers.
Midfielder Ben Garrity has begged 12 goals this season, nine of them in the league including one on Friday. Ethan Chislett has seven league goals including a hattrick in the win over Wigan in December. They are not short of options up front with the imposing figure of Uche Ikpeazu alongside Ryan Loft and former Man United youngster James Wilson also in the setup. 17 year old Baylee Dipepa has also grabbed a couple of goals in the last four games.
22 wins for Vale against 27 Cobblers victories in previous league encounters. Vale have won on 5 of their 13 previous visits to Sixfields, including two of the last three. The last game between the two sides at Sixfields though did result in a Cobblers win, a solitary Benny Ashley-Seal goal gave us the points in a game which saw the Vale keeper Lucas Covolan sent off. Vale won the reverse fixture back in September when a late Garrity goal gave them a 1-0 win. Goals between the sides are relatively few with only a total of five goals in the last six meetings.

Lee Swabey returns as the man in the middle, last at Sixfields to oversee our defeat to Salford last season he has 101 yellows and four reds in just 22 games this season including two double figure card count games, 11 yellows and one red in the Reading v Bolton encounter with 10 yellows on the opening day Posh v Charlton game.

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Thanks as always GPC.

I'm going to lay it on a plate and take the flak. I'm struggling a bit to get up for these last few games. I love the Cobbs. But I’m not used to this mid table obscurity. I feel like the passion has dropped out of the side as well. With most of them having one eye on next season. A bit like me really 

[Bingers]

Thanks as always GPC.

I'm going to lay it on a plate and take the flak. I'm struggling a bit to get up for these last few games. I love the Cobbs. But I’m not used to this mid table obscurity. I feel like the passion has dropped out of the side as well. With most of them having one eye on next season. A bit like me really 

Could you not just pretend that we are fighting relegation? Surely your mind and body can adapt to that, subconsciously expecting it.

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Could you not just pretend that we are fighting relegation? Surely your mind and body can adapt to that, subconsciously expecting it.

How very dare you…. I was expecting automatic promotion Bingers. Honestly Evers 

[TPFKA Marvo]

Thanks as always GPC.

I'm going to lay it on a plate and take the flak. I'm struggling a bit to get up for these last few games. I love the Cobbs. But I’m not used to this mid table obscurity. I feel like the passion has dropped out of the side as well. With most of them having one eye on next season. A bit like me really 

Me too. Completely numb football wise. Which is good. WIn or lose? Meh. Nothing at stake. Haven't even watched the last two games, played in a golf competition Good Friday. Get these last 5 games out the way and I'm going to take the summer off.

[Observing]

100% in that boat.

Will still go of course but, meh.

Only good thing left is that Vale, Fleetwood, Carlisle and Barnsley still have things to play for which may give those games a little bit of an edge at least.

The Exeter game at 2pm on the 20th could be a bore fest.

[GrangeParkCobbler]

Thanks as always GPC.

I'm going to lay it on a plate and take the flak. I'm struggling a bit to get up for these last few games. I love the Cobbs. But I’m not used to this mid table obscurity. I feel like the passion has dropped out of the side as well. With most of them having one eye on next season. A bit like me really 

No flak.... quite a few think like this I reckon. We don't do boring mid-table seasons very well. Only went to Reading as it was something to do with the kids, and the stop off in Theale on the way to play pool and darts was probably the best part of the day!

7000 to Barnsley indeed.....!!

[Tom]

100% in that boat.

Will still go of course but, meh.

Only good thing left is that Vale, Fleetwood, Carlisle and Barnsley still have things to play for which may give those games a little bit of an edge at least.

The Exeter game at 2pm on the 20th could be a bore fest.

Always a chance of a game being fun, even when the season is done in terms of possibilities - never a time when going behind and grabbing a comeback and a late winner isn't fun for example.

Made the trip over for this one so hopefully it'll be decent at least

[Bingers]

Always a chance of a game being fun, even when the season is done in terms of possibilities - never a time when going behind and grabbing a comeback and a late winner isn't fun for example.

And the joys of pîssing somebody else's parade is also a bit of fun. Do we remember the balloons going up at Grimsby?

[itsme]

I'm just enjoying the end of the season vibe with no real pressure of promotion or relegation

[Tom]

And the joys of pîssing somebody else's parade is also a bit of fun. Do we remember the balloons going up at Grimsby?

I remember that day, great example.

Long time ago so probably an element of it seems more than it was but I can’t remember a game with more police than that one!

[everbrite]

I believe it is Brady’s hope/ambition to finish as high as possible in League One; none of this ‘MEH’ mentality  for me!  Do  those who indulge in similar mentality believe that PV will wish us well if the roles were reversed!? Have been to Vale  more than a few times and there would not be a snowball chance in hell of a similar ‘MEH’  attitude!

[DavCobb]

Sc***horpe felt a bit ‘meh’ and didn’t do us any favours.
I’m sure we’ll go for it.

[WadeyCobbler]

Looking forward to this with no pressure on us and all the pressure on them. They should bring a few so hopefully a decent atmosphere and game to boot. Be nice to get to 60 plus points so for me still plenty to play for but in a stress free environment.

[Coolcat]

Thanks as always GPC.

I'm going to lay it on a plate and take the flak. I'm struggling a bit to get up for these last few games. I love the Cobbs. But I’m not used to this mid table obscurity. I feel like the passion has dropped out of the side as well. With most of them having one eye on next season. A bit like me really 

Absolutely the opposite! So great having good days out, whether home or away without the grinding pressure!

Good day at Reading - more so for getting there for 10.50am via MK and Oxford at just £23 - a £45  saving for two of us from going via Coventry.
Looking forward to tomorrow, though mid table, pressure off, obscurity or not, ain't getting me to Fleetwood...once to Blackpool this season is enough thanks! 

[Shoemender]

Absolutely the opposite! So great having good days out, whether home or away without the grinding pressure!

Good day at Reading- more so for getting there for 10.50am via MK and Oxford at just £23 - a £45  saving for two of us from going via Coventry.
Looking forward to tomorrow, though mid table, pressure off, obscurity or not, ain't getting me to Fleetwood...once to Blackpool this season is enough thanks! 

Couldn't agree more Coolcat. Will be at Fleetwood though.

[west stand oap]

All 3 of our remaining home games are winnable. Historically we just have the edge over Port Vale with 30 wins to their 25 and 23 games drawn, in the 38 home games we have 20 wins, 9 draws and 9 defeats.

From the start of 2024 Vale went 14 games without winning a game and only picked up 4 points but they have won their last 2 and will feel they have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. However these 2 wins were against Burton, and we know how poor they are, and Bristol Rovers who have not scored a goal in their last 4 games.

Vale have taken points from half of their away games with 4 wins, 6 draws and 9 defeats, scoring only 14 while conceding 33. In these 19 games they have only scored 2 or more 3 times and have failed to score 9 times. Defensively they have conceded 2 or more 10 times and have kept 5 clean sheets.

As for our team JB has said that Koiki is not yet ready to start so the back 4 may be unchanged unless any of them are deemed to be unable to play 2 games in 4 days. I think Bowie could return to the starting 11 and it will be interesting to see who starts in goal.

We have to want this as much as Vale do and I'm sure JB will not settle for anything but a full commitment and I expect us to take all 3 points.

[the grumpy old man]

It's about time we gave some team a hammering, when was the last time we won by 4 or 5 goals? We have it in us and these last 5 games we should go for it, with 3 in the bottom 4, Exeter down there and Barnsley losing regularly at the moment, now is the time to do it.

None of this 'on the beach' please .

[everbrite]

It's about time we gave some team a hammering, when was the last time we won by 4 or 5 goals? We have it in us and these last 5 games we should go for it, with 3 in the bottom 4, Exeter down there and Barnsley losing regularly at the moment, now is the time to do it.

None of this 'on the beach' please .

Absolutely Grumpy, Absolutely! Put that in your pipe and smoke it el MEH fanatics