The Valiants travel to Stockport County on Tuesday evening in our penultimate Sky Bet League One game of this season
Vale come into this clash against Stockport following a 2-1 defeat away at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. Two goals in either half from Aribim Pepple were all that separated the two sides in Devon.
Post Plymouth Thoughts
The Gaffer's immediate reaction to the Plymouth result:
“Overall, we’ve had some chances in the game, and just the quality in that final third was lacking.”
Our Opponents
County have a famous history in football and most recently went from the National League North to League One in the space of six years.
Stockport’s most recent title came in 2024 as they won Sky Bet League Two, finishing on 92 points. They came close to securing back-to-back promotions the season after, but missed out due to a Play-Off semi-final defeat to Leyton Orient.
The Hatters currently sit in fourth position in the league with a spot in the play-offs all but secured. County come into Tuesday night’s game off the back of a 3-1 home win against Peterborough United.
The Opposition Dugout
Dave Challinor is the man in charge of the Greater Manchester club. He was appointed in 2021 following the sacking of Simon Rusk. Challinor has gone on to lead his side for 263 games, with a win percentage rate of 54%. Before his move to Stockport, the Englishman had spells at Hartlepool, Flyde and Colwyn Bay.
Before his transition into management, Dave had a seventeen-year playing career, making over 400 appearances along the way. His playing career began at Tranmere Rovers in 1994 and finished at Colwyn Bay in 2011, where he then became player-manager.
Prior to this, Dave had spells at Northern side Bury and his current employers, Stockport.
Player to Watch
Oliver Norwood is certainly a player for the travelling fans to keep an eye out for on Tuesday. The midfielder has been one of Stockport’s highest-performing players so far this season, scoring seven goals and contributing with ten assists, smashing his goal and assist tally from last season.
Fixture Throwback
Stockport County 0-5 Port Vale, 23rd November 2010
Vale haven’t travelled to Stockport for a league game in over fifteen years, when they swept aside the Cheshire outfit.
The Valiants took the lead through Sean Rigg with twenty-three minutes on the clock and doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time as Marc Richards found the back of the net.
The second half began in a similar fashion with Marc Richards netting his second goal of the game to put Vale 3-0 up.
Goals on the stroke of full-time by Justin Richards and Jake Speight gave the Valiants a 5-0 victory and their biggest ever away win over County.
