Vale Park last season was where the good times started to roll again, under the temporary guidance of ‘Charlie and Frank’ Prior to the Vale game The Reds’ had just said farewell to Gary Megson after a 3-0 away defeat to Oldham. For the remainder of the season Forest flirted with a playoff place, in the end only just missing out. That made a miserable season rather exciting to say the least.
This season sees both sides at the right end of the table. Vale were early League 1 pace setters, but have drifted out a little of late and have lost 5 out of the last 6 matches.
Vital Quotes:
Port Vale Team News:
Port Vale striker Akpo Sodje (ankle) is a doubt, but Stefan Moore and Michael Husbands are battling it out to step in. Defender Colin Miles serves the final match of a three-game suspension and misses out.
Pot Vale from: Goodlad, McGregor, Walker, Pilkington,
Talbot, Whitaker, Harsley, Husbands, Sonner, Humphreys,
Smith, Sodje, Moore, Constantine,Anyon, Abbey, Husbands, Humphreys, Moore.
Player to watch: Leon Constantine
Joint top scorer on 6 with our very own man of the moment Grant Holt. He has made something of a red hot partnership with Akpo Sodje.
Nottingham Forest Team News:
Forest meanwhile continue a run, that is yet to see them lose away. A win at Port Vale could see The Reds’ open up a gap at the top of the League.
Forest will once again be without Danny Cullip (thigh). but Kris Commons should make the bench again. Grant Holt is expected to have made a full recovery from a calf injury, that put him on the bench at the weekend against Tranmere. John Curtis should retain his place after making a successful comeback from injury on Saturday.
Forest from: Smith, Curtis, Morgan, Breckin, Bennett, Southall, Holt, Clingan, Perch, Harris, Agogo, Pedersen
Gary Holt, Lester, Thompson, Commons.
Player to watch: Kris Commons
Regardless of how much time he gets on the pitch, Forest will look to him to be the playmaker in midfield. Fans know he has the ability to turn a game in an instant, they also know he can be infuriating.
Match Facts & Stats
There have been 45 meetings between the sides, stretching back to the 1906/07 season. Forest have won 22, Vale have won 13 and 10 have been drawn. The Reds’ did the double over Vale last year, winning 1-0 at hom and 2-0 at Vale Park.
Next Fixtures:
Swansea. Home. 30 September 2006
