BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Stevenage v Port Vale

29 September 2017

Get the lowdown.

Key Matchday Info...

Check out our First Time Guide, aimed at providing all the vital information for both home AND away supporters.

Saturday is Academy Day! Find out more about & support the U18s in their 10:30am kick-off.

Advance priced tickets are available until 5pm on Friday in the club shop, or midnight at borotickets.co.uk. Tickets will also be available at matchday prices on the turnstiles or from the ticket office.

Port Vale supporters wishing to travel down can also pay on the South Stand turnstiles.

The Broadhall Suite will only be open to both home AND away fans from midday.

The Club Shop & Ticket Office are open from midday on Saturday.

Free parking is available across the A602 in Fairlands Valley car park. Please note not to park in the nearby retail parks.

Get to the game with our Arriva Shuttle Bus service which runs from the Bus Station and Railway Station to The Lamex Stadium for just £1.50 return.

The bus leaves the stations at 12:54, 13:19, 13:44, 14:09 & 14:34 before the game and then at 16:40, 17:00, 17:20 & 17:45 from the stadium.

Onto the game…

Stevenage is aiming for a third win on the bounce on Saturday after victories against Morecambe and Carlisle over the past seven days.

Although the long midweek journey to Carlisle has taken its toll on the players, recent results and a strong overall start to the season will have gone someway in countering the affects as the squad hope to consolidate their place around the top of the table.

In contrast, Port Vale will be desperate for a result to kick-start their season after a poor start to their campaign has left the club manager-less going into Saturday’s game.

Michael Brown was relieved of his duties two Saturday’s ago but the club are yet to name his full-time replacement. Chris Morgan and Ned Kelly are currently working as joint-caretaker managers.

Just one win from their opening 10 games has left the Valiants joint bottom of the table, but with familiar faces such as Michael Tonge and Lawrie Wilson on the books, the squad’s quality isn’t in doubt.

Team news…

Danny Newton, Fraser Franks, Terence Vancooten and Tom Pett all picked up knocks on Tuesday and could miss Saturday’s fixture.

All the players will be assessed across Friday and into Saturday morning as to whether they are ready for selection.

View from both camps...

Stevenage boss, Darren Sarl…

“It has been a really pleasing week, we are not finished yet though are we so I think it is a little too early to start clapping the players and saying we have had enough.

"I don’t think you ever really put in a performance like we did on Tuesday night without in the back of your mind thinking, 'let’s not let that be in vain'.

“We have got to make sure we try and carry on the good work. Let’s see it out, let’s see this one through and nine points in a week would be a terrific collection for the time period."

Port Vale joint-caretaker, Chris Morgan…

“We’ve been really pleased, me and Ned, with the response of the players over the last two games. We’ve changed the shape a bit, the lads have taken to it, but we still haven’t got that win.

“That little bit of quality in the final third is missing and it’s decision making. We got into good areas, but it’s just that final decision that is costing us."

Previous meetings...

We are tied when it comes to historical results against Port Vale - 2 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats in all competitions.

Our last fixture against the Valiants came in November 2016 as Boro were knocked out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 First Round defeat at Vale Park.

Can’t make it to The Lamex?

Live match commentary will be available for this game so make sure you subscribe to the new Stevenage iFollow service. If you are based outside of the UK & Ireland, you can stream the game LIVE!

iFollow subscribers will also be able to access full match highlights along with all the post-match reaction.

Always stay locked into our Twitter feed on a matchday - it is the #1 place for all the latest from the Lamex.

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Match Reports

REPORT: Stevenage 2-0 Port Vale

30 September 2017

Boro pick up another three points...

Stevenage made it the perfect end to a perfect week as goals from Danny Newton and Jonathan Smith saw Boro to a 2-0 win at home to Port Vale.

In what could be described as the best home performance of the season, the result was never really in doubt as the game was under control from start to finish.

After two straight wins, Darren Sarll named the same starting XI for the third game in a row – an impressive feat for all those starting due to the long midweek trip to and from Carlisle.

It took a little while for Boro to settle into the game but when they did, the chances started to flow. Barnett had the first effort of the game for either side, forcing Fryer to get down low after a decent strike from 20 yards out.

Stevenage’s first opportunity came from Danny Newton as he twisted and turned his way past a whole host of Port Vale players, before shooting high and wide with his right foot.

Moments later his strike partner, Matty Godden, had a golden opportunity to put Boro ahead. After racing clear of the visiting defence, Stevenage’s star striker only had Roos in goal to beat, but after getting off his line quickly, the Vale goalkeeper made a superb stop to deny him.

It didn’t take too long for Stevenage to get the breakthrough though – Danny Newton firing past Roos after been played in by Kennedy. The young attacker receiving the ball on the half-turn before driving up the pitch and finding the killer pass. Newton’s finish was unerring, this time with his left foot, leaving Roos no chance.

Aside from a few half-chances for the visitors, Port Vale rarely threatened Fryer’s goal during the opening period. Ronnie Henry - making his 450th appearance for the club - was on hand to head away Tom Pope’s off the line and in the instances where the Valiants put the ball across the box, nobody was there to finish it off.

Stevenage continued to have the better of it and were almost rewarded with another goal before half-time - Pett forcing Roos to push away his 25 yard effort following some attractive build-up play from the attack.

Coming out of the break confidence was high, demonstrated by the team move that almost set up Newton for a second. Kennedy, Pett and Newton all involved before the striker stung the palms of Roos who managed to just about keep it out.

Shortly after though it was 2-0 - Jonathan Smith curling in a beauty from the edge of the box, leaving the Port Vale keeper no chance.

Tom Pett should have put the game out of sight almost immediately after as a quick one-two between himself and Kennedy opened up the chance from 10 yards out.

Newton soon made way for Kyle Wootton and with the team playing well and on their way to a third straight win, the atmosphere at the Lamex was at its best all season.

Godden, clearly desperate to get in on the act, saw a well struck volley fly over the bar from distance and in a rare opportunity for Port Vale, Fraser Franks - making his 100th appearance for the club - also cleared one off the line on his milestone day.

With the game under control, the final 20 minutes saw little action as Stevenage saw out a sixth win of the season and fourth clean sheet, consolidating their place in the play-off places.

Stevenage FC

Standings

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Stevenage v Port Vale

REPORT: Stevenage 2-0 Port Vale