The Valiants will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to seven games on Saturday as they aim to get three points against Scunthorpe United at Vale Park. So, let’s look back on two previous classic encounters between the two sides.
League One, Vale Park, Saturday 27th August 2016: Port Vale 3-1 Scunthorpe United
It had been 30 years since Vale had beaten Scunthorpe outright either home or away, but it was the Valiants who came up trumps in this early league clash at Vale Park in 2016, following an Alex Jones brace on his first Vale start.
Following a positive start to the game, it was the Valiants who deservedly took the lead when Kjell Knops played in Anton Forrester, who was able to place the ball past Scunthorpe goalkeeper Luke Daniels after 33 minutes.
But just as the referee was due to blow his half-time whistle, the Iron equalised as Josh Morris’ free-kick evaded all Vale bodies in the box, and was adjudged to have crossed the line by the linesman after a tight-looking call.
However, the blow of conceding on half-time didn’t deter the Valiants, who started the second-half strongly and were rewarded when Alex Jones volleyed in Jerome Thomas’ cross to put the Valiants 2-1 up on 49 minutes.
Things got worse for Scunthorpe five minutes later, as Jordan Clarke was sent-off following his second booking after the game.
And Alex Jones secured the points with six minutes of the game remaining, adding a second goal to his tally and a third for Vale, by placing the ball into the back of the net following Sam Foley’s through ball.
Port Vale: Alnwick, Purkiss, Streete, Smith, Knops, Foley, Grant, Tavares (Amoros 16’), Thomas (Hart ’83), Jones, Forrester (Paterson 71’)
Subs not used: Mac-Intosch, Cicilia, Pereira, Boot
Scunthorpe United: Daniels, Clarke, Mirfin, Wallace, Townsend, Dawson (Mantom 65’), Holmes (Wiseman 62’), Bishop, Morris, van Veen, Hopper (Madden 71)
Subs not used: Anyon, Adelakun, Goode, Wootton
Att: 4,557
Fourth Division, Vale Park, Monday 3rd February 1986: Port Vale 3-1 Scunthorpe United
Vale’s previous outright win against Scunthorpe before that early season win in 2016, was another 3-1 at Vale Park on a Monday night in our promotion winning campaign of 1985/1986.
The result came in the midst of an 18-match unbeaten run for the club as John Rudge led the Valiants to fourth in the Fourth Division table and to promotion to the Third Division.
The game had finished 0-0 between the first encounter between the sides that season at Scunthorpe but goals from John Williams, Russell Bromage and an Andy Jones penalty were enough to overcome a Scunthorpe side who finished 15th that season and set the Vale on their way to promotion.
Att: 2,977