The Valiants return to Vale Park this weekend as we take on Scunthorpe United in the Emirates FA Cup First Round, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.
Jon Brady's side come into this game off the back of an impressive 4-2 home league win against Rochdale last time out. Three goals in the opening twenty-five minutes from Onel Hernandez, George Byers and Jordan Gabriel, followed by Keyrol Figueroa's third goal in four matches late on in the second half, claimed all three points for the Valiants.
The Opposition
Our opposition on Saturday is National League side, Scunthorpe United. The visitors currently sit in 23rdplace, having won three, drawn one and lost eleven league games so far in the 2026/27 season.
Interim managers, Jacob Butterfield and Ross Barrows are yet to win since taking the role on the 28th of October following Andy Butler’s two-year stint at the helm. Scunthorpe have faced five consecutive league defeats, with their last victory coming in the form of a 4-1 win over Hartlepool United in late September. Most recently in the league, they suffered a 2-1 loss away to Boston United.
To reach the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup, the visitors previously went away to Boston United, winning 3-1 with Daniel Batty, James Gale and Jean Belehouan finding their names on the scoresheet.
There will be two former Valiants potentially involved in the Iron’s matchday squad on Saturday. Those being, left-back, Tyler Denton, who made 21 appearances in the 2017/18 Campaign on loan from Leeds United, and centre back, Callum Howe, who made just three league appearances for Port Vale before leaving in the Summer of 2018.
Jordan Gabriel will be a familiar face to the travelling supporters after he played nine matches on loan for the Iron back in 2020.
Scunthorpe’s Recent Form
Scunthorpe 2-2 (4-5 Pens) Wolves Under 21s [National League Cup]
Boston 2-1 Scunthorpe
Tamworth 4-1 Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe 2-3 Woking
Boston 1-3 Scunthorpe [Emirates FA Cup Qualifier]
Opposition Dugout
Jacob Butterfield and Ross Barrows are the ones at the helm for this FA Cup fixture after Andy Butler was relieved of his duties. While both are still registered as players, Butterfield is by far the most experienced, having played over 300 championship games across the course of his career before making his first move to Scunthorpe in 2022. He rejoined in 2026 as a player-coach after a two-year spell at Gateshead.
Barrows spent his youth in the academy of The Iron and made his return to the side in 2023 at 25 years old, establishing himself as a pivotal player in their promotion season in 2024/25.
Injury News
Vale will be without long-term absentees Ryan Croasdale, Mo Faal and Matty Craig.
In his most recent press conference, Jon Brady revealed that both Ben Garrity and Ben Waine are 2-3 weeks away from being fit, while Ryan Croasdale has suffered a setback with his recovery with his return now expected to be around 5-6 weeks away.
Press Conference
Jon Brady and Connor Hall were both on press duties this week, speaking to PVTV, BBC Radio Stoke and Moorlands Radio, looking ahead to Saturday’s game.
Both press conferences can be watched in full on PVTV here.
Fixture Flashback
Port Vale 1-0 Scunthorpe | Saturday 29th January 2022
A lone goal from Nathan Smith at Vale Park was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over the Iron back in 2022.