Preview: Port Vale

1 February 2019

Setting the scene…

A trip to Vale Park is next up for Tranmere Rovers as Micky Mellon’s side aim to get back to winning ways in Sky Bet League Two away at Port Vale.

Rovers will hit the road for the second week running following last Saturday’s loss to promotion-chasing Mansfield Town at Field Mill having played most of the fixture with ten men after Ollie Banks’ first-half red card – with the result seeing TRFC sitting 10th in the division, on the cusp of the Play-Offs

Vale saw the departure of Neil Aspin, who resigned as the Staffordshire club’s manager on Wednesday following Tuesday night’s goalless draw at Newport County, which moved them up to 18th in League Two.

Team news

New signings Kieron Morris, Sid Nelson and Chris Dagnall will be all hoping to feature this weekend. Ollie Banks will serve a suspension after his red card last weekend, whilst Ishmael Miller will also miss out through injury.

The Valiants season so far

Port Vale find themselves six points above the relegation zone in the fourth-tier ahead of Saturday's match.

And currently without a manager after Aspin left his post on Wednesday, Vale will be hoping for a turn in fortunes in the second half of the League Two season.

From their 30 league games played they have collected 33 points, having won eight, drawn nine and lost 13 of their fixtures -

Should they beat Tranmere at Vale Park on Saturday, Vale could climb two positions up to 16th if results go their way.

One to Watch

Vale will look to midfielder Luke Hannant to drive them towards victory this weekend.

Born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Hannant was in the youth set ups at both Cambridge United and Norwich City before a spell at non-league side Dereham Town.

Having relocated to study at Northumbria University, Hannant was scouted by non-league Gateshead when playing for Team Northumbria, who represented the University.

He signed for the Heed in the summer of 2016 following a trial and went on to make 37 appearances for the National League club where he scored four goals, also spending time at South Shields on a duel registration.

Hannant signed for Vale in January 2018, reuniting with Aspin, who was his manager at Gateshead.

The 25-year-old has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Vale this season, scoring four goals.

Tickets

The SWA have been given an initial allocation of 1,020 in the Hamil Road Stand for our League Two match at Port Vale on Saturday 2nd February, 3pm kick-off.

Adults: £20
Seniors (62+): £15
Young Adult (18-21): £15
Junior (2-17): £8
U12: Free with full paying adult

Supporters will be available to purchase on the day, the allocation for the Hamil Road stand is 4,000. There will be a £2 increase per age category for match day tickets which will be cash only sales and will be available from 1pm from the away ticket kiosk.

The admission price for disabled supporters (with a carer) is based upon their relevant age category of adults, concessions and junior, whilst the carer is admitted free of charge. They may sit in the away stand, but there are no facilities for supporters with disabilities.

There is a dedicated stand for supporters with disabilities which is a mixed supporter area. This is situated at the opposite end of the ground to the away end. Tickets for wheelchair bays must be booked through Port Vale, by contacting their ticket office at 01782 655821.

To purchase your tickets, click here: https://www.trfctickets.co.uk/away-matches

Please note, all adult tickets for the away end have been sold out from the TRFC ticket office. Tranmere fans are advised to now contact Vale's ticket office on 01782 655821.

Match Coverage

Can’t make it to Rovers’ away game at Port Vale on Saturday? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Vale Park.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Port Vale 1-2 Tranmere

19 February 2019

A brace from Sky Bet League Two top goalscorer James Norwood, his 21st and 22nd league goals of the campaign, sealed a deserved 2-1 win for Tranmere at Port Vale.

The striker scored in the first and second half to seal the win in front of more than 800 Tranmere supporters. Vale’s Ben Whitfield scored for the hosts shortly after Norwood’s second, but the visitors held on for a deserved three points to move up to ninth in the division.

Tranmere named an unchanged line up and bench from the 0-0 draw at Cambridge United last weekend.

Port Vale were seeing more of possession in the opening stages, but with their first attack, Rovers took the lead through Sky Bet League Two top goal scorer, Norwood.

The goal came about when winger Kieron Morris cut in from the left to drive a shot at the goalkeeper, Scott Brown. The ball deflected just behind the striker, but he did well to turn away to retrieve the ball and fire home.

Port Vale had chance to react immediately through Ben Whitfield, through on goal, the number 24’s shot was tame and easy for Scott Davies in the TRFC goal.

Tranmere’s Connor Jennings had the next opportunity, a half chance on the edge of the penalty box, but lashed his half volley over the bar.

Both Norwood and manager Micky Mellon were handed yellow cards but referee Trevor Kettle after the striker thought he was fouled in the penalty box, but their retaliation to a penalty not being awarded earnt the pair bookings.

Norwood nearly wriggled home his second of the night in the 40th minute, but from a tight angle, the keeper saved well with his feet. At the other end, veteran centre forward Tom Pope leaped above the TRFC defence to send a header into the away crowd behind Davies’ goal.

The second half began with the rain starting to come down in Burslem but the travelling support stayed with their team, and soon enough, Norwood had his 22nd league goal of the season.

The striker broke through to collect Jennings pass and with a perfect left footed strike, found the bottom hand corner to put TRFC two goals to the good.

But before the hour mark, Vale pulled a goal back as Whitfield drove through the heart of the TRFC defence to fire past the outstretched arm of Davies.

Jennings hit another strike just wide of the mark for TRFC before Zoumana Bakayogo heroically kept the visitors level with an excellent goal line saving header, before the follow up chance was saved by Davies.

Norwood came within a whisker of scoring his first hat trick for Tranmere only a couple of minutes later, firing a shot from the right-hand side slightly wide of the left hand post.

Tranmere made two changes as they looked to keep ahead in the game, Jonny Smith and Harvey Gilmour replacing Morris and Ben Pringle.

Port Vale were pushing for an equaliser but the TRFC defence stood strong with a late strike from substitute Ricky Miller the final throw of the dice for the hosts as Rovers collected a deserved three points.

Tranmere: Davies, Caprice, Ellis, Monthe, Bakayogo, Morris (Smith 76), Perkins, McCullough, Pringle (Gilmour 62), Jennings, Norwood. Unused subs: Pilling, Buxton, Mullin, Dagnall, Banks.

Attendance: 3,835 812 away.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Port Vale ticket information

28 January 2019

Tranmere Rovers have been given an initial allocation of 1,020 in the Hamil Road Stand for our League Two match against Port Vale on Saturday 2nd February, 3pm kick-off.

Tickets for the game will go on sale from Monday 14th January, with prices as follows...

Adults: £20
Seniors (62+): £15
Young Adult (18-21): £15
Junior (2-17): £8
U12: Free with full paying adult

Supporters will be available to purchase on the day, the allocation for the stand is 4,000. There will be a £2 increase per age category for match day tickets. This will be cash only sales from the away sales kiosk situated outside the away stand. Supporters can purchase from 1pm on the day of the game.

Postage tickets will go off sale on Tuesday 29th January 2pm. All other tickets will go off sale on Friday 1st February, 12pm.

To visit our ticket website, please click here.

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Standings

Preview: Port Vale

Port Vale rearranged date and ticket details

Report: Port Vale 1-2 Tranmere

Port Vale rearranged date and ticket details

Port Vale ticket information

Standings

Fixture News

Port Vale rearranged date and ticket details

Fixture News

Port Vale rearranged date and ticket details

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