The Valiants welcome Burton Albion to ST6 on Saturday in a lunchtime clash.
It was an action-packed game when the two teams met back in August, with the sides settling for a point each. George Byers was given a harsh red card just fifteen minutes into the game, and despite being down to ten men, Vale had chances to win the game.
Press Conference Takeaways
Here’s what the gaffer had to say about Saturday’s game:
“We will do everything in our power, technically, tactically, and psychologically to prep the boys so we can attack the game and go out to win”.
About Burton Albion
The Brewers have been in League One since 2018, following their relegation from the Championship the previous season. Burton have been fortunate to avoid relegation to League Two in the last two seasons, finishing 20th on both occasions, and surviving by two and then, more recently, one point.
Burton haven’t enjoyed a great season up to this point and find themselves stuck in the relegation zone with seventeen games to play. The Brewers sit 22nd in the league after having won only eight of their games up to this point. The visitors come into Saturday's game following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday evening.
The Opposition Dugout
The man in charge at Burton is Gary Bowyer. Gary took over the club in December 2024 following Tom Hounsell’s very short spell in charge at the Midlands club. Bowyer became Burton’s eighth manager in the space of five years when he was appointed eight months ago.
The Englishman began his managerial career back in 1997 with Ilkeston Town, before moving to Derby as their youth manager, where he stayed for six years.
Following this, Bowyer spent eleven years working with Blackburn Rovers, starting with the youth side and eventually becoming the first team manager in 2013. After spells with Blackpool, Bradford, Salford, and Dundee, he was appointed as Burton’s manager, where he has managed sixty-four games so far, guiding them to safety last season.
Player to Watch
A standout player for Burton this season is their number nine, Jake Beesley. Beesley is the club's top scorer this campaign with ten goals, and has also contributed with four assists.
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 7-1 Burton Albion, 5th April 2013
The Valiants have only beaten Burton twice at Vale Park in the last thirteen years, with one of these victories seeing Vale score seven past their opponents.
Vale raced into a 3-0 lead with just half-an-hour played at Vale Park. Two goals from Lee Hughes and a Chris Birchall effort from outside the box put the Valiants in a commanding position.
Six minutes into the second half, Lee Hughes grabbed his third goal of the game and his second from the penalty spot. Tom Pope would go on to score Vale’s fifth of the game before Matthew Paterson grabbed a consolation goal for the Brewers.
The action wasn’t done there, though, as Ben Williamson found the net to make it 6-1. Right on the stroke of full time, Williamson scored again to make it 7-1 and record one of Vale’s highest ever winning scorelines.
