The Valiants are back on the road this weekend as they head south to face Leyton Orient in Sky Bet League One action.
We have already faced this weekend’s hosts when the two sides met back in September. On that occasion, Vale fell to a late defeat as Charlie Wellens scored a 95th-minute winner for Orient.
Press Conference Takeaways
Here’s what the boss had to say regarding Saturday's game:
“He (Richie Wellens) has been a fantastic manager over a period of time, and I never underestimate any of his teams, but we’ll be trying to go there and win the game.”
About Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient is located in Leyton, East London. The travelling Valiants will make a three-hour journey on Saturday to see their team. The O’s were a National League club during the 2018/19 season, gaining promotion to League Two that year. They would make their return to League One in 2023, when they were crowned champions of League Two, winning the league by six points.
They did come incredibly close to gaining promotion to the Championship last season, but fell short at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 to Charlton in the Play-Off Final.
Richie Wellens’ side currently sit in a precarious position in the league, just two points above the relegation zone. They are currently placed 18th, having won only nine of their twenty-eight games to this point. Orient come into this game off the back of a heavy 3-0 defeat away at fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers.
The Opposition Dugout
The man in charge at Orient is Richie Wellens. Wellens became the manager of Leyton Orient in 2022 and went on to win Sky Bet League Two at the first time of asking. Before moving to East London, Richie had managerial spells at Doncaster, Salford, Swindon and Oldham. He guided Swindon to a League Two title win during his two-year stint at the club.
Player to Watch
The danger man all season for the O’s has been striker, Dom Ballard. Ballard is enjoying his most prolific season in his career up to this point, scoring fifteen goals so far and contributing with two assists. The 20-year-old came through Southampton’s youth academy and signed for Wellens’ side last summer.
Fixture Throwback
Leyton Orient 2-3 Port Vale, 4th April 1994
The Valiants haven’t had much success when playing away from home against Leyton Orient. The last time Vale came away from Leyton with three points was back in 1994 when the legendary John Rudge was in charge.
The game will be remembered for the heroics of the one and only Martin Foyle. Martin scored a hattrick in this match, cancelling out goals from Mark Cooper and Martin Thomas.
This season would be a historic one for Vale as they were promoted the to the Football League First Division, finishing 2nd in the Second Division.