BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Port Vale V Swindon Town

All you need to know

15 January 2022

Swindon Town will be looking to bounce back when they take on Port Vale at Vale Park in the EFL Sky Bet League Two this afternoon.

Ben Garner's team are back on the road and they will be out to right some wrongs after losing 3-2 away at Mansfield Town on Tuesday night.

Kick-off for today's game is at 3pm.

Allow us to get you set for the game...

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LAST TIME WE MET

Tyreece Simpson getting on the scoresheet wasn't enough to prevent the Reds from slipping to a 2-1 defeat at The County Ground in the reverse fixture between these two teams earlier this season, with a brace from Ben Garrity sealing a win for the Valiants.

LAST FIVE

Season / Date	Competition	Result	Town Scorers
2021-22 - 11 Sep (H)	Sky Bet League Two	1-2	Simpson
2019-20 - 25 Jan (H)	Sky Bet League Two	3-0	Legge (OG), Hope, Doughty
2019-20 - 29 Dec (A)	Sky Bet League Two	2-0
2018-19 - 16 Mar (H)	Sky Bet League Two	0-0
2018-19 - 24 Nov (A)	Sky Bet League Two	0-1	Adebayo

FULL RECORD V PORT VALE

P	W	D	L	F	A
88	35	20	33	122	114

TICKET NEWS

Town fans can purchase tickets on the day today at Port Vale, while those who need to collect can do so at the collection point just left of the turnstiles.

TEAM NEWS

Jack Payne and Mathieu Baudry remain out for Town while one other player was being assessed, but everyone else is fit and raring to go.

Defender Romoney Crichlow won't feature after being recalled by parent club Huddersfield Town earlier in the week.

A WORD FROM THE TOWN CAMP...

Ben Garner, Swindon Town Head Coach: "They paid a couple of transfer fees for a couple of good players that are experienced at the level, so they’ve obviously looked to strengthen.

"We assess what they have done in this period. They’ve obviously had a Covid break as well, a long period without playing and that changes where clubs are, like it did for us.

"So, we learn from the previous game. They are a very committed and organised team - Darrell’s (Clarke’s) teams are always intense with and without the ball. We know that, we have to be prepared for that, but we have got a way of playing that we think can be successful.

"We have to commit to that, we have to believe in it, but we certainly have to have that intensity and focus that is needed to get three points against anyone in this league."

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE TWO

Newport County v Harrogate Town (3pm)

Bradford City v Salford City (3pm)

Bristol Rovers v Hartlepool United (3pm)

Carlisle United v Crawley Town (3pm)

Colchester United v Barrow (3pm)

Exeter City v Scunthorpe United (3pm)

Mansfield Town v Walsall (3pm)

Northampton Town v Forest Green Rovers (3pm)

Stevenage v Sutton United (3pm)

Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale (3pm)

OFFICIALS

Referee - Andy Haines

Assistant Referee - Thomas Harty

Assistant Referee - Kevin Morris

Fourth Official - Andrew Hendley

FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE

Not making the trip to Port Vale today? Don’t panic because there are numerous ways to keep up to date with all the action.

Live updates will be available on our Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to our Match Centre on the website, which can be found at the top of the home page on matchdays.

In the wake of the game, https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/ will be the place to go with a full report, reaction and pictures available to view and read through shortly after the final whistle.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Port Vale 1-3 Swindon Town

Reds pick up big three points

15 January 2022

Swindon Town bounced back in emphatic fashion after beating Port Vale 3-1 at Vale Park in the EFL Sky Bet League Two this afternoon.

Jonny Williams gave the Reds a richly-deserved lead with 20 minutes played after a flowing move, but the visitors were soon level thanks to a great strike by Kian Harratt.

Lucas Covolan was shown a straight red for a studs up challenge on Harry McKirdy, and the impressive Ben Gladwin stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty to give his team a slender but deserved lead at the break.

McKirdy continued his hot streak with another goal in the second-half, and that strike was enough to wrap up a big three points for Swindon.

Town Head Coach Ben Garner opted for just one change with Ben Gladwin being restored to the Starting XI, while Jordan Lyden dropped to the bench.

It was a tightly-contested start to the game for both teams in the opening stages of the game, though it was the Reds who fashioned the first chance of the game.

A lofted ball into the box fell at the feet of Harry McKirdy who took it first time, but his shot lacked power and it was an easy save for Lucas Covolan.

Ben Gladwin then saw his well-struck effort pushed over the bar by Covolan, before Jonny Williams sent a low shot straight at the Vale Keeper following a good spell of possession by the visitors.

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However, Williams wouldn't be denied and he succeeded moments later after what was some lovely football by the Reds, with McKirdy slipping in Williams who produced a superb finish past Covolan.

That joy was short-lived, though, as Vale hit straight back thanks to Kian Harratt, who ran into space before beating Lewis Ward with a superb effort from distance.

McKirdy charged forward but could only blast over under pressure, before a corner was played short to Dion Conroy who decided to go for it way out, and his well-struck shot was tipped wide by Covolan.

It was an end-to-end game with both teams having dangerous moments, but it was Town who looked the most threatening as they attacked with a real swagger.

Gladwin could only blaze over after a cut-back pass fell at his feet, and there was some drama right at the end of an already action-packed first-half.

McKirdy went up to challenge Covolan and was studded in the chest, leading to Covolan being shown a straight red card and Gladwin stepping up to hammer home from the penalty spot.

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HALF-TIME: PORT VALE 1-2 SWINDON TOWN

McKirdy continued to be a menace early in the second-half as he won a corner, which led to Conroy trying his luck again but, this time, he was denied by Aidan Stone in the Vale goal.

Despite being down to 10 men, the home team did put together a spell of pressure just shy of the hour mark, and they were causing trouble by getting balls into the box.

Town eventually settled back into a groove and they were looking to extend their lead with McKirdy sending a wild strike way off-target.

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But McKirdy did eventually find the back of the net with just over 20 minutes left to play in the game, and it was well worth the wait.

Town broke forward and a ball over the top was latched on to by McKirdy who showed great work-rate to get there, before lofting the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Garner then made a flurry of subs as Jonny Williams made way for Jordan Lyden, before Jayden Mitchell-Lawson and Ryan East replaced Tyreece Simpson and Louis Reed respectively, with Simpson seeing his attempted lob over the head of Stone dropping inches wide of the post moments before.

Town saw out the rest of the game with ease as they bounced back in impressive fashion, snapping a winless run on the road and picking up a huge three points.

FINAL SCORE: PORT VALE 1-3 SWINDON TOWN

TEAMS AND STATS

PORT VALE - Covolan; Hall, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson (Aidan Stone 45), Conlon (C), Hussey, Pett (Dennis Politic 67) Harratt (Ryan Edmondson 72), Cass.

SUBS NOT USED - Gibbons, Walker, Martin, Amoo.

SCORERS - Kian Harratt (25).

SENT-OFF - Lucas Covolan (45).

SWINDON TOWN - Ward; Odimayo, Iandolo, Conroy (C), Gladwin, Simpson (Jayden Mitchell-Lawson 76), McKirdy, O'Brien, Williams (Jordan Lyden 73), Hunt, Reed (Ryan East 76).

SUBS NOT USED - Idem, Aguiar, Parsons, Dabre.

SCORERS - Jonny Williams (20), Ben Gladwin (45), Harry McKirdy (68).

BOOKED - Jordan Lyden.

Referee - Andy Haines.