Matchday Guide | Port Vale (A)

29 August 2023

The Alex travel to Vale Park for a Carabao Cup second-round tie against local rivals Port Vale on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Lee Bell’s men will aim to make further progress in the competition after knocking Championship side Sunderland out in round one.

The Opposition

After a disastrous 7-0 opening-day defeat, Vale have been unbeaten in their past five games - winning four. They sit 6th in League One after a superb response to the early setback.

The Gaffer

Andy Crosby was appointed permanent manager in May after a spell as interim boss.

The former Oxford and Scunthorpe defender Crosby was previously caretaker manager of the Northern Ireland U21 during 2020-21.

Fighting Talk

Lee Bell: “It’s a fixture that captures the imagination of the public in Staffordshire and South Cheshire. We can’t get wrapped up in that. This is a completely different game to Sunderland because of the rivalry that exists, so we are looking forward to it."

Andy Crosby: "We have to keep raising our level of performance. If we want to progress on the pitch our levels have to go up. If the level of training is high then we will collect the fruits of that so nobody is here to rest on their laurels."

Head-to-Head

There have been 81 meetings between Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra. The Valiants have come out on top 38 times with the Railwaymen winning 20 times. The remaining 23 games have been draws. The last three meetings have ended with a 1-0 scoreline to Port Vale.

Ticket Details

Crewe's allocation of 1,031 is now completely sold out. There will be no entry allowed at the gate.

How to Get There

For travel information as well as a helpful guide to visiting Vale Park click HERE.

Match Officials

The referee for tomorrow’s clash is Sebastian Stockbridge. The linesmen are Ollie Williams and Callum Jones. The fourth official is Thomas Kirk.

Elsewhere in the Carabao Cup

Swansea v Bournemouth; Birmingham v Cardiff; Bolton v Middlesborough; Bristol City v Norwich; Exeter v Stevenage; Fulham v Stevenage; Luton v Gillingham; Newport v Brentford; Plymouth v Crystal Palace; Portsmouth v Peterborough; Sheff Wed v Mansfield; Stoke v Rotherham; Tranmere v Leicester; Wolves v Blackpool; Wrexham v Bradford; Wycombe v Sutton United; Reading v Ipswich; Salford v Leeds.

Can't Make The Game?

Crewe fans in the UK and around the world can listen to LIVE commentary on iFollow - CLICK HERE to purchase an Audio Match Pass for just £2.50!

Match Reports

Match Report | Port Vale 0 Crewe 0 (Vale win 2-0 on pens)

29 August 2023

Railwaymen knocked out of cup on penalties
Sides could not be separated after close 90
First clean sheet of season for Alex

Crewe Alexandra bowed out of the Carabao Cup after losing a penalty shootout at Port Vale.

The Railwaymen impressed with their performance; bossing the first half and standing firm in the second against the League One outfit.

But neither side could break the deadlock in the 90 minutes and it went to penalties.

After five perfect penalties in the first round at the Stadium of Light, the Alex were wayward with every spot-kick this time.

Elliott Nevitt, Christopher Long, Rio Adebisi and Joel Tabiner all failed to find the net.

It will be a disappointment to Lee Bell and the superb sell-out travelling supporters, but The Railwaymen acquitted themselves well and should suffer no loss of confidence as they prepare for the visit of League Two leaders MK Dons this weekend (Saturday, 3pm).

Manager Bell made three changes to the side that lost at Bradford at the weekend. Zac Williams, Conor Thomas and Matus Holicek were recalled while Mickey Demetriou, Long and Shilow Tracey dropped to the bench.

In-form Vale made seven changes, with Andy Crosby handing a debut to new loan signing from Spurs, Alfie Devine.

The Alex started brightly and bossed early possession. Adebisi’s cross had to be clawed away from under his own bar by keeper Connor Ripley and Nevitt saw a shot blocked.

At the other end, Ben Garrity should have done better with a left-footed volley when the ball dropped to him in the box following a Vale free-kick, but he looped it across goal and wide.

On 21 minutes a super cross from Tabiner, who was playing in a more advanced role, was met by Adebisi at the far post but the wing-back could not keep his effort down from close range.

On 36 minutes a lovely ball from Nevitt was met by a flying volley from Cooney but it was comfortable for the gloves of Ripley.

Vale had the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time but the goal was chalked off because the referee spotted a push.

Superb play from Luke Offord and Tabiner set Holicek racing away early in the second half but a cynical foul from Lewis Cass ended a sweeping move.

The searing pace of sub Tracey left a couple of home defenders for dead after the hour-mark but his cross couldn’t find anyone.

And Vale sub James Wilson let fly at the other end but his strike was straight at Harvey Davies.

Adebisi’s downward header from a corner was held by Ripley at the second attempt, and super play from Tracey out wide found Nevitt in the box but his shot was well blocked.

Oliver Arblaster fizzed one just over with five minutes remaining as the hosts looked to win it in normal time.

Davies made a great save from Wilson in injury time and Offord slid the loose ball clear to maintain the Alex keeper’s first clean sheet and force penalties.

Port Vale (3-4-3): Ripley; Cass, Smith, Lacovitti; Sang, Lowe (Massey, 57), Walters (Arblaster, 57), Shorrock (Plant, 65); Garrity (Chislett, 79), Thomas (Wilson, 57), Devine.

Subs not used: Leutwiler, Clark, Ojo, Dipepa.

Booked: Garrity, Cass, Lacovitti, Devine.

Crewe (3-4-3): Davies; Williams (Demetriou, 66), O’Riordan, Offord; Cooney, Thomas (Tracey, 60), Powell (Griffiths, 89), Adebisi; Holicek (Long, 60), Nevitt, Tabiner.

Subs not used: Booth, Lunt, Billington, Finney, Agius.

Booked: Thomas, Williams, Powell, Nevitt

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge.

Attendance: 6,375 (1,027).

Ticket News

Carabao Cup | Port Vale tickets sold out

25 August 2023

Crewe Alexandra would like to thank supporters for their superb response to the release of tickets for our Carabao Cup tie at Port Vale on Tuesday, August 29.

Our allocation of 1,031 at Vale Park has now completely sold out.

Crewe Alexandra asked for an additional allocation of tickets due to high demand but Port Vale have been unable to grant this request due to operational reasons.

Once again, thank you for your valued support.