Jon Brady’s side go in search of back-to-back league wins as we take on Chesterfield at Vale Park this Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Kyle Dempsey’s first half goal-of-the-season contender was enough to claim all three points against Grimsby Town last time out, in a game largely dominated by the Valiants.
The Visitors
Saturday’s visitors to Vale Park are seventh-placed Chesterfield, who have four wins, three draws and three losses to their name in the league so far.
The Spireites come into the game off the back of a 2-2 away draw with bottom-of-the-table Crawley Town where Chesterfield raced into a two-goal lead, courtesy of Lee Bonis and Louie Marsh, before two goals in five second-half minutes rescued a point for Colin Kazim-Richards’ side.
Chesterfield’s Last Five
Crawley Town 2-2 Chesterfield
Chesterfield 4-2 Tranmere Rovers
Cheltenham Town 2-1 Chesterfield
Chesterfield 1-1 Port Vale [Jersey Mike’s Trophy]
Chesterfield 2-0 York City
Opposition Dugout
Experienced manager, Paul Cook, is the man inside the Chesterfield dugout for the second time in his career.
Cook, 59, took charge of the Spireites originally back in October 2012 and went on to guide his side to the League Two title in the 2013/14 season. Chesterfield enjoyed an impressive first season in League One, finishing sixth, but losing out on the Play-Offs to eventual winners, Preston North End. Following an impressive couple of years in charge, Cook left to become manager of then League Two side, Portsmouth.
After seven years away, Cook would return as Chesterfield manager in February 2022, guiding them to an eventual return to League Two, claiming the National League title in 2024.
| Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % |
First Tenure | 145 | 66 | 35 | 44 | 45.5% |
Second Tenure | 245 | 120 | 53 | 72 | 49.0% |
Total | 390 | 186 | 88 | 116 | 47.7% |
Injury News
During his press conference, Jon Brady revealed that he is expected to be without left back, Liam Gordon, for a month following an injury picked up whilst on international duty with Guyana.
Brady also mentioned that Ben Waine would be “touch and go” for this weekend’s game.
Vale are also without long-term absentees Ryan Croasdale, who is expected to return in November, and Matty Craig, who misses the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.
Fixture Flashback
Port Vale 3-2 Chesterfield | November 2015
First-half goals from Sam Kelly and Ajay Leitch-Smith, and a second-half strike from Vale favourite, Louis Dodds, were enough to claim all three points in an entertaining five-goal game at a snowy Vale Park for Rob Page’s side back in 2015.
