Port Vale look to bounce back from successive losses as they host Southend

Port Vale interim manager Danny Pugh returns after self-isolation period due to Covid-19, as the hosts welcome bottom of the table Southend in a League Two clash on Saturday.

Port Vale have won just one game in their last ten and will be eager to gain a confidence boost against Southend this coming game-day. The home side are yet to replace former manager John Askey who departed the club on January fourth, with Danny Pugh acting as interim manager since the beginning of January. Although Pugh was forced to self isolate after testing positive for Coronavirus, the manager returns to the sidelines on Saturday.

The home players will be looking to impress the new manager on Saturday, with an appointment expected to be  announced soon. Pugh mentioned during the week in a press conference that:

“The new manager, whoever that may be, will be watching the game. So it is for everybody to put on the best performance and the best show, and show they deserve to wear the shirt next week.” – Stoke-on-Trent Live

Southend occupy the bottom of the League Two table and have lost their last three games in the league against Cambridge, Mansfield and Bradford. All these losses came at home for the Shrimpers who have registered only one win in 2021 which game against Barrow in early January.

The visitors on Saturday have scored the lowest number of goals in the league this season as they have netted only 16 times in 25 games. One player who will look to change the goalscoring form of Southend is Nathan Ferguson; the attacking midfielder signed for the Blues on Friday and will hope to feature against Port Vale on Saturday.

Image: southendunited.co.uk
New Southend signing Nathan Ferguson

The new signing from Crawley Town knows just how important it is for Southend to start getting wins under their belt saying that:

“I think I can add a lot to the team. Nobody likes losing, like anyone I want to be winning games and I want to help the team get some wins and move up the table.” – SouthendUnited.co.uk

Fans of both sides will be anticipating an exciting matchup this weekend, with both teams playing with more motivation than ever. A new manager will be watching on for Vale while The Shrimpers desperately attempt to claw their way out of a relegation battle.

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