Preview: Exeter City vs Port Vale

City’s unbeaten run looked to be coming to an end before Nicky Law’s penalty in injury time rescued a point, and the games keep coming with the visit of Port Vale for the first home midweek league fixture of the season. Matt Taylor was disappointed with the goals his side gave away on Saturday, which could lead to a shake up of things in defence and the possibility of Tom Parkes returning to the starting line-up. Elsewhere any changes may be made in order to keep players fresh, so the likes of Jayden Richardson could feature.

Port Vale were amongst a number of clubs thought to be more likely to be competing towards the bottom than the top, and have made a fairly middling start to the season – after drawing their first three matches they have settled in to a pattern of winning at home and losing away, latterly winning 1-0 against City’s friends from down the A38 on Saturday. Summer signing David Amoo will be one to watch, the former Cambridge player has settled in well and has three goals for his new club, joint top scorer with Richard Bennett. One player who won’t be featuring is former City midfielder Manny Oyeleke, who got injured in the Valiants’ second match of the season and hasn’t featured since.

The corresponding fixture last season took place back in April and saw City win 2-0. Law gave City the perfect start from the spot in the second minute, before Hiram Boateng ensured the Goal of the Season competition had to be relaunched with his memorable volley in the second half. The return at Vale Park back in October saw City leading 1-0 (Law again) until deep into injury time when Idris Kanu forced home an equaliser some time on Sunday morning. City’s win in April reduced the league head to head deficit to 17-20, 11 matches finishing level. Details of the last 17 encounters can be found at https://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?p=9096

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Alan Young
Assistant Referee: Mark Pottage and Darren Wilding
Fourth Official : Mark Russell

Just the one game for Alan Young in charge of Exeter, which was last season’s FA Cup game https://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?sp_event=exeter-city-vs-tbc-6