“The journey is a tough one that we’re on… people have got to learn and learn quickly or else they will be out of work in the summer” – anyone would think Our Graham is a little miffed at the moment. Out of one competition, but still in another; we’re back in League One action this weekend and off to Port Vale. Hold us back – the excitement of visiting a place like Stoke is about to overcome us.
This is our 20th league game and you could argue that the table is starting to reflect how things actually are in this division. Well, compared to those early season tables that have teams like Leyton Orient leading the way (what do you mean they’re still there?). If that’s the case, then we’re up against a solid Vale team just two points off the playoffs, whereas we’re in a little bit of strife down the rankings in 21st.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first – if we lose tomorrow, we could finish the day bottom of the table. The not-so-bad-but-not-so-good news is that two of the three clubs looking up at us right now don’t have the easiest games. And the good news is that we’re playing two of the three teams in and around us in the next couple of weeks. If that does count as good news… does it?
Talking team for a moment, we have two players out for this one through suspension. It forces GW’s hand when he comes to decide who makes the cut and who doesn’t. A back three with Luke and Smiffy as wingbacks is our thinking; Chorley to keep his place over Luke Jones and Lucas Akins to return in place of Filipe Morais? That’s what we’d do – it probably means that’s not what GW will do.
Now here’s a little bone for you to chew on – we have never lost at Vale Park. Yeah, yeah – we’ve only played there twice, but there are plenty of places we’ve been twice and haven’t won. In fact, we’ve only lost once in four occasions to Vale and that was courtesy of a bad backpass by Mark Roberts in an FA Cup replay. Come on people! Reasons to be cheerful – ’tis nearly the season after all…
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Geoff Eltringham – The man in the middle at Vale Park this weekend is someone that we haven’t had much acquaintance with. The good news is that we’ve yet to lose a game that Mr Eltringham has reffed; the bad news is that we’ve yet to finish a game with 11 men – a straight red for Ronnie Henry against Northwich and two bookings for Michael Bostwick against Chesterfield. He’s loving the cards this season too…
This season for Geoff Eltringham:
Games: 13 — Yellow: 49 (3.8pg), Red: 2
Our record under Geoff Eltringham:
P2 W1 D0 L0 F2 A1 — Yellow: 3, Red: 2[/expand]
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With a risk free £10 wager with Titan Bet, you could have a nice little earner if you back us at 5/2. The home win is 21/20 if you go according to form, which would cast a shadow on your soul. We are 30/1 to repeat our 3-1 victory from a couple of seasons ago, while 5/6 is the price if you think there will be Over 2.5 Goals. Now, there are other bookmakers doing the rounds, if that’s what you’d prefer…
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