Big Match Preview: Port Vale v Stevenage

18 October 2019

Stevenage travel to Burslem to take on Port Vale on Saturday 19th October 2019 for a 3pm kick-off…

Ticket news…

Supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets ahead of the day from the Club Shop or online at borotickets.co.uk to save £2 on each ticket price.

Advance Prices:

Adults (22-61): £20
Seniors (62+): £15
Young Adults (18-21): £15
Juniors (12-17): £8
Under 12s (Club Shop only): FREE

Tickets will be available on the day of the game from the Away Sales Kiosk situated the Away Stand from 1pm. Please note, this is a cash only sales point.

Carer tickets are free of charge and disabled supporters are to be charged the appropriate price for their age bracket.

Stadium Parking is available for £5 but please note, there is no advance booking.

Travel…

The Stevenage FC Supporters Associatio n coach will be departing The Lamex Stadium at 10:30am on the day of the game, so please arrive with time to spare in order to confirm an on-time departure.

To view prices and to book your seat, please visit www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/travel.

Onto the game...

Stevenage will be hoping to double their total of league wins this Saturday, after overcoming Grimsby Town 2-1 last weekend for their first three points of the season.

With a win at Wycombe in the Leasing.com Trophy a week prior, Mark Sampson’s side will be looking to make it a trio of wins in a row, which would be much welcomed considering the slow start to the season.

After moving off the bottom of the EFL by a point last time out, Stevenage will now anticipate a positive run of results in order to climb back up the table.

As for Port Vale, the Valiants find themselves sitting comfortably in midtable while boasting an unbeaten home record thus far. John Askey’s side come into Saturday’s fixture in an inconsistent run of form, having won, drawn and lost in their last three games.

For a more detailed look at Saturday's opponents, please click here for the Scouting Report.

What they said...

Caretaker boss Mark Sampson says after a run of two wins in a row, he and his team have had a weight lifted of their shoulders.

"This week we have had a spring in our step, with players feeling more positive, more confident but still understanding all the things we need to do on a Saturday to give ourselves a chance of winning matches.

"On the back of those two results, the players can express themselves a bit more and feel more confident to make those decisions.

"That clarity is there now and we want to make sure this team is light, bright and clear on what they need to do."

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Sampson also acknowledged John Askey’s side’s run of form at Vale Park.

"They come into this game unbeaten at home, they are a team who are very effective at set-pieces, a team who are resilient defensively and don't concede many goals.

"But, like a lot of teams in this league, you know every Saturday it is the team that turns up, who works the hardest and works the most who gives themselves the best chance of winning.

"We know Port Vale are an excellent team, very effective in certain areas of the pitch, but we've got to make sure we show the things we are good at."

Meanwhile, Port Vale boss John Askey prides the team on their impressive home record.

“Every home game now we are confident. We have got as good a record as anybody at home so we have got to go into Saturday’s game thinking we have got a great chance.

“We have got to do what we have been doing, and that is working really hard, getting the crowd behind us and then hopefully getting the three points.

“The last few performances Stevenage have improved. They have got the players, but now that the old manager’s gone, I do not think you will see the same antics as they got up to last season”.

Previous meetings...

Stevenage have a notable unbeaten record in the league vs Port Vale, having won four and drawn four in eight meetings since Boro joined the Football League in 2010. Our only defeats to the Staffordshire side however, have both been in the first round of the FA Cup, losing 1-0 at Vale Park in 2009 and 2016.

After a 0-0 home draw in October of last year, Stevenage picked up a memorable three points away at Port Vale on Good Friday, with a thumping 4-1 win as our late play-off push gained momentum.

A double from Emmanuel Sonupe, a tidy finish from Ilias Chair and a customary Kurtis Guthrie goal made it an Easter to remember for the travelling Stevenage contingent.

Officials...

Referee: Peter Wright

Assistant Referee 1: Abbas Khan

Assistant Referee 2: Conor Brown

Fourth Official: David Plowright

Betting...

Stevenage are 29/10 underdogs with league sponsors, Sky Bet whilst Stevenage to win and BTTS has been PRICE BOOSTED from 7/1 to 8/1. If you fancy a flutter this weekend, use our designated link which enables the club to receive a slice of your stake!

Also, don't forget that supporters can now check-in on matchdays, unlock achievements and earn special rewards courtesy of Sky Bet, title sponsors of the EFL. Download the new Sky Bet EFL Rewards app by clicking here.

Online coverage...

Live match commentary will be available for UK iFollow subscribers so make sure you sign up to listen to every game. If you are based outside of the UK & Ireland, you can stream the game LIVE!

Visit the Live Match Centre to access form guides, live text commentary and live access to the match on iFollow

Make sure you are following our Twitter account throughout the day as we bring you the very latest from Vale Park.

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

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Match Reports

Report: Port Vale 1-1 Stevenage

19 October 2019

Stevenage made it three games unbeaten as Kurtis Guthrie’s first half penalty cancelled out Jake Taylor’s early strike at Vale Park...

After getting off to a slow start to proceedings, Boro battled their way back into the game and during the second half, had a whole host of opportunities to take all three points back to Hertfordshire.

Mark Sampson named an unchanged line-up as Stevenage did so for the first time this season.

An early effort from Vale flew wide of the near-post as Jake Taylor took aim from the edge of the box but just a few minutes later, Taylor did make it count, as he ghosted in to the box to latch onto Amoo’s cross, following good work down the right from the winger to get into position.

It took Stevenage a little while to get into the flow of the match and it needed a crucial refereeing decision to help swing the game back into Boro’s favour, as Cuthbert was deemed to be fouled inside the box following a corner, which Guthrie promptly dispatched.

Boro managed the remainder of the half well, keeping the ball mainly in the Vale final third, penning back the home side without creating any further clear-cut chances. Farman was needed at his brilliant best with ten minutes remaining, as he beat away Worrall’s well hit effort from 12 yards out.

The Skipper, Scott Cuthbert picked up a booking just before the half was out, much to the delight of the home fans, who were often furious throughout the first 45 minutes as they felt the referee wasn’t giving them a fare shake of the stick.

A promising Boro counter-attack was thwarted by said referee soon after, as a four on two opportunity opened up and despite briefly allowing play to continue, Peter Wright halted play, much to the annoyance of the Stevenage players and Management Team.

The final action of the half saw Cowley go on a mazy run into the box, only before failing to pick out a teammate when crowded out by Vale defenders.

Right out from the break, Watts had the chance to put Stevenage ahead but blazed over on the volley after industrious work by Cowley to receive the ball on the by-line, before crossing into the box.

An early substitution saw Cowley replaced by Mackail-Smith, who was still on the hunt for his first goal in Stevenage colours. Carter came inches away from providing the breakthrough with 10 minutes played in the first half, almost getting onto the end of Guthrie’s back-post knockdown but Vale stopper Brown was quick to smother the ball.

Vancooten made his return on 60 minutes, as James-Wildin made way, and Farman produced another stunning save shortly after, as he tipped Bennett’s ambitious strike over the bar. Six minutes later, Guthrie had a shot cleared off the line, after clever link-up play between Watts and Mackail-Smith to open up the opportunity from close range.

Guthrie was again denied with less than 20 minutes remaining, as he forced Man of the Match Brown to get down quickly to his pin-point free-kick, that seemed destined for the bottom corner. The goalkeeper could only parry it out to Carter, whose cross back across goal was well blocked.

As time dwindled down, Stevenage looked to be the more likely winners but weren’t able to finish off any of their many promising attacks, as a point on the road had to be taken to make it two wins and a draw from the past three games.

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Ticket News

Tickets & Travel: Port Vale

14 October 2019

Next up for Stevenage FC is an away trip to Port Vale's Vale Park on Saturday 19th October 2019...

Supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets ahead of the day from the Club Shop or online at borotickets.co.uk by 4pm on Friday 18th October, to save £2 on each ticket price.

Advance Prices:

Adults (22-61): £20
Seniors (62+): £15
Young Adults (18-21): £15
Juniors (12-17): £8
Under 12s (Club Shop only): FREE

Tickets will be available on the day of the game from the Away Sales Kiosk situated the Away Stand from 1pm. Please note, this is a cash only sales point.

Carer tickets are free of charge and disabled supporters are to be charged the appropriate price for their age bracket.

Stadium Parking is available for £5 but please note, there is no advance booking.

Travel…

Need a lift? The Stevenage FC Supporters Associatio n coach will be departing The Lamex Stadium at 10:30am on the day of the game, so please arrive with time to spare in order to confirm an on-time departure.

To view prices and to book your seat, please visit www.sfcsa.co.uk/home/travel.

Standings