Title contenders Mansfield visit scrambling Port Vale

Ttile chasing Mansfield Town take on relegation battlers Port Vale on Saturday at the Vale Park. While the teams sit at opposite ends of the table, a win would be just as imperative for their respective goals. Mansfield can apply pressure on the top two of Lincoln and Bury, and could potentially jump the latter with a high scoreline against the woeful Port Vale side.

When the two clubs faced off earlier in the season the score finished 1-0 to Mansfield, the goal scored by in-form CJ Hamilton and Port Vale finishing the game with ten men with midfielder Emmanuel Oyeleke shown a straight red card.

In the last four games Mansfield have not lost to their weekend’s hosts, achieving three wins and one draw against the Valiants. Last time Mansfield lost to Port Vale was in April 2003.

The last game played by the home side was a 0-0 draw away at 24th Notts County, with both teams taking the point as they fighting to stay in the Football League. Where as for Mansfield, in their last league game they thumped Cheltenham Town 4-2, after leading the game 2-0 before half-time with the Robins making the score 2-2,with only 20 minutes left but late on strikes from Will Atkinson and injury-free Alex MacDonald the Stags took all three points on their quest to win the league and get promoted to League 1 for the first time since 2002-03 season.

Line-ups

The hosts have no suspensions or injuries meaning that they can play their strongest side against the Stags but, Luke Hannant, Theo Vassell, Luke Joyce, Cristian Montano and Leon Legge all are at the risk of suspension if they get booked against Mansfield Town.

Mansfield are still missing strikers: Danny Rose (jaw injury), Jordan Graham (ligament damage), Craig Davies (ankle injury) and Tyler Walker is suspended for one more match and is able to return against Crawley Town allowing Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft to rotate his side. Defender Matt Preston is one game away from suspension and has a knee injury but it will be assessed on Friday whether he can play against Port Vale.

Vale manager John Askey commented on his teams work rate and the improvements that they are making. He said:

“The figures show that the work rate has continually gone up from when I first came in. They can still work harder but I don’t think we really gave Notts County a minute’s peace.

“We fought for every ball and that is what we have to do. First and foremost in a game of football you have to compete and then hopefully your ability comes through.”

Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft is aware there are no easy games and what a great job Askey is doing at Port Vale. He said:

“There are no bankers in this league,” he added. “It’s so tight – there are a lot of teams trying to get in the play-offs, and there’s a dogfight down at the bottom of the league.

“They [Port Vale] have had a management change and John Askey has come in, who did a phenomenal job at Macclesfield.

“There’s been sort of a wrestle period where he’s worked out the squad. They were dominant against Notts County and have energy in the team.

“They’ve now found a formula that they believe works for them. I’ve been reiterating [to the players]what we’re good at and the quality that we have in our team. We have to make sure that we commit to every moment.”