Let's talk about the Port Vale game

[selby]

  After responding to our plight near the bottom four of the table we have continued our upturn in form and gone four unbeaten taking 8 out of 12 points since the game at Plymouth, and at the same time have looked lot's more solid in defence  and at the same time have stepped up noticeably the ground we have covered in the games by the team.
  Our determination and in your face attitude has been a pleasure to see, and we have managed to upset the rhythm of the teams we have been playing and are consequently becoming a much harder side to play through with players backing each other up when both in and out of possession of the ball.
  Port Vale themselves have picked up of late gaining confidence from being the surprise packet and this seasons cup giant killers and being aware they can play at a high level and look now a team that can't be taken for granted despite being the bottom of the division.
  The big question is will both sides be intimidated by the prize of three points and play a cagy game? or try to be expansive and go for it ? hopefully for us the supporters the latter with the prize for both sides important.
  Both have played a lot of football in the last few weeks and injury and tiredness could be a factor in the game, and the use of substitutes could well have a big bearing on the game as  well as the choice of the starting elevens, and with an altered evening mid week game might not have the attendance the fixture deserves.
  What do you think, do we go with the same players fitness allowing? Can we take a very large stride towards points safety?  will Port Vale players think they really have a chance to stay up after disappointing results up to press this season? Are we showing signs we are going to finish the season on a high like last season? to me if we do steer clear of the bottom four, with the cup runs we will have had a very good season, What do you think?
    Two teams then that came up last season, Vale at the time probably the best side we played down at the Eco Stadium last season when they went away with the points on the day, and after a good win today against Bolton they may have given themselves a slight chance of saving themselves so  will come here with determination to keep a run going where only wins will help their cause and will  be dangerous opponents.
 Lots to discuss and a game where the points at risk could well be some of the most important of the season to both sets of fans and the clubs, with both not wanting to lose the game.
  Please have your say.
 
 

[selby]

  Yesterdays game showed we can stop other sides controlling games in mid field with Gott's and Bailey's work rate and tackle count making us hard to dominate, and Gibson and Clifton not far behind those two in spoiling a lot of Barnsley's build up in midfield.
  Keeping Cleary quiet and spoiling Kelly's contribution to play in mid field was no mean feat and showed a side to our game we have not always shown earlier in the season but bodes well for the future, with a lot of responsibility of players getting behind our back four taken off their shoulders at the back, and having the game in front of them allowing them to defend our own area with their back to our goal. A big reason Barnsley were restricted to few clear cut chances.
  A massive step up we need to replicate in matches to the end of the season.

[GazLaz]

  Yesterdays game showed we can stop other sides controlling games in mid field with Gott's and Bailey's work rate and tackle count making us hard to dominate, and Gibson and Clifton not far behind those two in spoiling a lot of Barnsley's build up in midfield.
  Keeping Cleary quiet and spoiling Kelly's contribution to play in mid field was no mean feat and showed a side to our game we have not always shown earlier in the season but bodes well for the future, with a lot of responsibility of players getting behind our back four taken off their shoulders at the back, and having the game in front of them allowing them to defend our own area with their back to our goal. A big reason Barnsley were restricted to few clear cut chances.
  A massive step up we need to replicate in matches to the end of the season.

I think that’s pretty much our main strength. We block the centre of the pitch with three hard working central midfielders and the wide men tuck in to help as well (especially when in front).

The only times they looked like formulating a coherent attack at 1-0 down were when we tried to press full pitch as opposed to conceding possession to the half way line, that we did most of the time.

[selby]

  Bang on Gaz.

[Alan Southstand]

After reading the Yorkshire Post report and, to a lesser degree, the Free Press, I was left wondering if I’d been to the same game! Yes, it didn’t have much by way of goalmouth action, but what it did have was an away side (mostly) controlling things throughout.
Barnsley might have been disappointing (YP), but that was largely due to how we nullified them. That said, it’s becoming increasingly obvious what we’re missing and what we have to invest in for next season - a goalscorer/striker. No lack of effort from Hanlon, but finishing is not one of his better attributes.
Another tricky game on Tuesday, as PV have found a way of picking up points themselves. However, 3 points for us on Tuesday and we can start to breathe a bit easier and maybe start planning for another season in L1. Players-wise, if Mols is fit, I would think he’ll be back in, at the expense of either Gibson or Middleton, both of them having worked their socks off covering back, for a change. Mols still gives us that extra ‘something’ up the top end.

[Fal]

Worth it to note we haven't beaten Port Vale at home since 2008, and they are currently on an unbeaten streak of 5 games at the Keepmoat/Eco with 4 wins and 1 draw.

All runs come to an end and hopefully it will be this Tuesday.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Bit of a chance to correct the Stockport semi here and treat it like a one of knock-out game. Win it and we are safe with 7 games to spare.

Fans should treat it as such too and give it that sort of atmosphere.

[drfchound]

I remember not too long ago beating Leeds at Elland  Road and thinking we were safe with seven games to go.
We ended up going down from The Championship on goal difference.

[idler]

I remember not too long ago beating Leeds at Elland  Road and thinking we were safe with seven games to go.
We ended up going down from The Championship on goal difference.

I’ve tried to erase that from my memory. We went back to Bradford and had a couple of celebratory pints in the local. It was a car crash from then on.

[Rupee92ONLY]

We had a proper first class numpty in charge then though.Bless him he’s never managed again the prick.

[drfchound]

We had a proper first class numpty in charge then though.Bless him he’s never managed again the prick.

Whatever you think about Dickov, he got us into a position from which we should have stayed up.

[les@donr]

PV beat Bolton on the w/e, they still have some fight in them, mustn’t think they are easy to beat. Must show them respect as another L1 team. Play at our strengths and we should get another win. The gap will be 8 points with Blackpool, we must be close to being safe, level on points with Barnsley.

[Draytonian III]

Port Vale beat Bolton , so I missed out on £80 on my coupon

[wing commander]

 Port vale beating Bolton is a reminder this wont be a easy game. They have no option but to go for it as they have to win every game. We have had a fantastic week and put ourselves in a great position to get this job done without have the nerve tingling stress of the last couple of fixtures of the season knowing we need to win.

 We need to be on it Tuesday, put these to bed and move 8 points clear (7 if you put our goal difference into play) and not waste the platform last week has given us.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Port vale beating Bolton is a reminder this wont be a easy game. They have no option but to go for it as they have to win every game. We have had a fantastic week and put ourselves in a great position to get this job done without have the nerve tingling stress of the last couple of fixtures of the season knowing we need to win.

 We need to be on it Tuesday, put these to bed and move 8 points clear (7 if you put our goal difference into play) and not waste the platform last week has given us.

It is clearly a tough one as they're playing for places in a big cup match, but also just their second win in 10 league games.  By contrast we've won 5 of the last 10.  My concern for us is scoring enough goals, we've been defensively bar the Cardiff and Wycombe games pretty good since christmas.  As Bolton have found out recently, it's very fine margins against any team in this league.  A lot of our recent wins and defeats could have gone either way.

[Ian Nimmo]

  Yesterdays game showed we can stop other sides controlling games in mid field with Gott's and Bailey's work rate and tackle count making us hard to dominate, and Gibson and Clifton not far behind those two in spoiling a lot of Barnsley's build up in midfield.
  Keeping Cleary quiet and spoiling Kelly's contribution to play in mid field was no mean feat and showed a side to our game we have not always shown earlier in the season but bodes well for the future, with a lot of responsibility of players getting behind our back four taken off their shoulders at the back, and having the game in front of them allowing them to defend our own area with their back to our goal. A big reason Barnsley were restricted to few clear cut chances.
  A massive step up we need to replicate in matches to the end of the season.

Yes I agree, it’s going to be really important to press hard from the start tomorrow and restrict them from any play in our defensive third. If we start with Bails, Clifton and Gotts they should be able to provide the energy that will be required. Our current back 4 seem to have been steady over the last couple of games, so no real reason why we cannot play higher up the field, and stop the nonsense of sitting back and giving the opposition so much time and space to knock the ball around which we have seen in a number of games.
Hopefully if all goes well and we get into a commanding position, we will be able to give gotts and bails some respite later in the game.


I think that’s pretty much our main strength. We block the centre of the pitch with three hard working central midfielders and the wide men tuck in to help as well (especially when in front).

The only times they looked like formulating a coherent attack at 1-0 down were when we tried to press full pitch as opposed to conceding possession to the half way line, that we did most of the time.

[Barmby Rover]

Rovers will put a massive effort in to win this one. The players have a rest for a week and a half. Middleton will do the business on the wing, and I can see Adelakun playing the striker role again, it should be enough to beat PV. I reckon a 3-1 victory here.

[Alan Southstand]

Good preview with Grant. Mols to be assessed in the morning, but he’s improving. Everyone seems to have come through the Barnsley game. Hanlan missing his shirt of course - it’s still in one of the Barnsley defender’s locker!

Grehan back training again and Robinson and BM will be packing their kitbags for a trip into Europe.

GM stressing that it’s not going to be an easy game, as none are at this level. There is an awareness of what we’re up against but there is a determination to finish this sequence of games positively.

[Ldr]

Rovers will put a massive effort in to win this one. The players have a rest for a week and a half. Middleton will do the business on the wing, and I can see Adelakun playing the striker role again, it should be enough to beat PV. I reckon a 3-1 victory here.

This has to be one of the most bizarre opinions I’ve read in a long time, Adelakun looked so out of place up top v Bolton and Hanlan was immense v Barnsley, hats off to you though if you’ve called it

[i_ateallthepies]

Rovers will put a massive effort in to win this one. The players have a rest for a week and a half. Middleton will do the business on the wing, and I can see Adelakun playing the striker role again, it should be enough to beat PV. I reckon a 3-1 victory here.

This has to be one of the most bizarre opinions I’ve read in a long time, Adelakun looked so out of place up top v Bolton and Hanlan was immense v Barnsley, hats off to you though if you’ve called it

Agreed, Ldr.  Think Barmy has been on the jungle juice again.

[les@donr]

or too much Grappa

[tommy toes]

It’s going to be wet and very windy tomorrow night so could be a difficult night for us and the teams.

[monkeytennis]

Yep there’s a right blow on already. Layers called for I think!

[jmt23]

Not one for the purists!but another win and we climb up again. They were seriously average to poor, and I can imagine Grant being really frustrated we didn’t score 3 or more in the first half.
 I don’t know what to make of the second half at all, it wasn’t a great watch though. I will put it down to tired legs after a tough section of the season.
With 21 points to play for, are we safe yet?

[BillyStubbsTears]

Not one for the purists!but another win and we climb up again. They were seriously average to poor, and I can imagine Grant being really frustrated we didn’t score 3 or more in the first half.
 I don’t know what to make of the second half at all, it wasn’t a great watch though. I will put it down to tired legs after a tough section of the season.
With 21 points to play for, are we safe yet?

I reckon we are safe by a couple of points.

[graingrover]

Outstanding performances from Sterry and Senior again .However the most important feature tonight was the teamwork ; every man put in a shift .

[Filo]

Job done, second half was disappointing like

[richtherover]

Very scrappy game but 3 points and I'll take that. Not convinced we're 100% safe yet but we can breathe a bit easier now. Great battling spirit. Well done lads.

[karldew]

Not sure what formation we ended up playing. No one in front of Sterry and Haks and Hanlan up top together.

Shit weather, poor game to watch, 3 points! (again!).

Time to count down the days to the league 1 26/27 fixtures me thinks!…

[GazLaz]

Great three points. They should just about jr enough points to stay up. May need one more.

Up to now we can mitigate the recent terrible performances with the ball by saying we are “grinding out results”. I’d like to see a bit of freedom now and a sign of the style of play for next season. We have been worse in possession of late than we were during the bad run.