Match Preview: Pompey v Port Vale

All you need to know about League One contest

24 March 2023

Cliff Richard topped the charts with ‘The Millennium Prayer’, cinemagoers were enjoying Stuart Little and the world was waiting to see what chaos Y2K would bring to computers (spoiler – not much).

You have to go all the way back to December 1999 to find the last time that Pompey welcomed Port Vale to Fratton Park.

But the sides will now battle it out on the south coast once more in Saturday’s League One fixture (3pm kick-off).

The hosts know that victory would see them close the gap on the final play-off spot to just four points, with Bolton not in action due to international call-ups.

Their opponents from Staffordshire, meanwhile, appear to be sitting comfortably in 16th position after winning fourth tier promotion via the play-offs last term.

Darrell Clarke’s men are nine points clear of the drop zone with the same number of games remaining.

But their form in 2023 has not been great – in fact, the Valiants have only won twice since New Year’s Day and were beaten on home soil by Burton last time out.

That most recent Fratton contest last century was a goalless affair, although Pompey came out on top at Vale Park earlier in the current campaign, with Dane Scarlett netting the only goal back in August.

TEAM NEWS
Ronan Curtis (knee), Marlon Pack (knee), Jayden Reid (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) all remain sidelined for Pompey, while Joe Pigott is suspended.

The hosts are also without Joe Morrell and Dane Scarlett, who are on international duty with Wales and England under-20s respectively,

Former Blues striker Ellis Harrison is likely to feature for the visitors, having netted 10 times since his summer switch from Fleetwood.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Paddy Lane ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 19 wins
Port Vale: 9 wins
8 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 9 wins
Port Vale: 6 wins
3 draws

TICKETS
There is a limited number of seats still available to buy, so click here to secure your seat before they are all gone.

Click here to read our matchday guide and find out what is happening around the ground on Saturday.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Neil Hair
Assistants: Leigh Crowhurst and Paul Kelly
Fourth Official: Andy Bennett

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters at home and abroad can watch the contest live by purchasing an iFollow match pass and visiting the match centre.

Domestic iFollow subscribers can enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Sunday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online).

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 3pm unless stated

Saturday
Charlton v Wycombe
Exeter v Accrington
Fleetwood v Lincoln
MK Dons v Morecambe
Peterborough v Derby

Sunday
Forest Green v Sheffield Wednesday (1pm)

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 2 Port Vale 2

Bishop and Jacobs salvage a point for Blues

25 March 2023

Michael Jacobs scores for Pompey against Port Vale at Fratton Park — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey recovered from a two-goal interval deficit to snatch a dramatic point against Port Vale at Fratton Park.

It was far from being a vintage performance from the Blues and they trailed to strikes from Matty Taylor and Funso Ojo.

Any hopes of salvaging something from the game seemed to be gone when Colby Bishop’s penalty was saved just before the break.

But Bishop converted another spot-kick following the restart and substitute Michael Jacobs quickly grabbed the equaliser.

John Mousinho made one enforced change from the side that won at Bristol Rovers the previous week.

With Joe Morrell on international duty with Wales, there was a return to the starting line-up for Owen Dale.

Dane Scarlett was also away and Joe Pigott still suspended, so a space opened up on the bench for academy forward Koby Mottoh.

Early signs were promising for Pompey, with Reeco Hackett and Paddy Lane sending in dangerous deliveries that could not be capitalised on.

But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on eight minutes after Mal Benning found plenty of space on the left.

He sent a low cross towards the back post, where Ryan Tunnicliffe and Connor Ogilvie both failed to get the ball clear, leaving Taylor with a simple finish.

They might have had another goal soon after, but Nathan Smith could send a free header straight into the arms of Matt Macey.

Pompey were struggling to find any fluency, perhaps being hindered by the strong winds blowing around Fratton Park.

The hosts were dealt a further blow when Lane was forced off injured, with Jacobs on to replace him.

And they soon saw their deficit increased after Taylor had done well to charge down Macey’s clearance.

The ball ricocheted straight to midfielder Ojo, who had time and space to find the net from 25 yards out.

It looked as though the Blues would have a lifeline when referee Neil Hair spotted Smith’s shove on Sean Raggett from a Jacobs corner.

He immediately pointed to the spot, but the usually reliable Bishop saw his poor spot-kick comfortably saved by Aidan Stone.

Half Time: Pompey 0 Port Vale 2

There was a change at the back for the start of the second half, with Clark Robertson replacing Ryley Towler and taking the captain’s armband.

However, Pompey were still struggling to make their way through a solid Valiants back-line to test Stone.

A third substitution followed on 55 minutes, with Louis Thompson making way for Tom Lowery in the middle of the pitch.

After a rusty opening, he then played a superb pass that sent Jacobs racing through, but he lifted his shot over the bar.

The hosts were back in the contest soon after, though, when Ogilvie’s touch drew former team-mate Ellis Harrison into a clumsy tackle.

BISHOP did not let his earlier effort affect him, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner before racing the ball back to the centre circle.

And Fratton Park soon erupted when the Blues found a leveller after Jacobs had just failed to connect with Ogilvie’s cross.

Port Vale made a mess of dealing with the danger and Tom Conlon fired the ball straight to JACOBS, who chested it down before firing home.

They almost handed Pompey another goal on 87 minutes when Bishop sent a cross into a box absent of any blue shirts.

Sammy Robinson was in no danger whatsoever and yet inexplicably headed the ball inches past his own post.

The Fratton faithful roared their side on in an attempt to inspire a late winner and it almost arrived in stoppage-time.

Hackett did brilliantly to hold off a defender in the box and fire in a shot, but the ball deflected off Robinson and was saved by Stone.

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Macey; Rafferty, Raggett (c), Towler (Robertson 46), Ogilvie; Tunnicliffe, Thompson (Lowery 55); Lane (Jacobs 35), Dale, Hackett; Bishop
Goals: Bishop 67 (pen), Jacobs 70
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Bernard, Hume, Mottoh

Port Vale (3-1-4-2): Stone; Robinson, Smith, Donnelly; Pett; Worrall (Massey 86), Ojo, Conlon (c) (Butterworth 80), Benning; Taylor (Wilson 68), Harrison (Proctor 68)
Goals: Taylor 8, Ojo 39
Booked: Donnelly, Robinson, Smith, Benning, Proctor
Subs not used: Stevens, Agyakwa, Politic

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 18,046 (795 away fans)