Port Vale v Crewe Alex 24/25 Preview - Moneybags

The strangest thing about this fixture is that Port Vale are loaded and are throwing cash about like it's going out of fashion. For most of my life supporting Crewe, the Vale have seemingly lurched from one financial disaster to another, with multiple administrations and ownership takeovers.

But now, with the hefty backing of Carol Shanahan, the Vale have invested in one of the deepest squads in the division and they look poised to gain automatic promotion at least, and potentially the title at best. The Alex will have a tough time of things trying to get a result. Here is my preview of the trip to Burslem:

Top of the Table Clash

When was the last time both these sides were doing well in the same league? It's not often. 2019-20 was probably the closest we came to having that, when the Alex were in the top 3 and the Vale sniffing the play-offs. But I don't think we've seen these 2 sides go into the game both in the top 7. It'll make for a really good atmosphere.

In Numbers

This leads me onto my next point. The Alex will be travelling in big numbers to this game, with over 1,800 making the trip. As previously mentioned, I've come away from the last handful of Vale v Crewe encounters feeling that the players didn't really grasp the magnitude of this game and what it means to Alex fans. It means a heck of a lot.

The Alex don't have a natural rival, so latch on to similar sized clubs closest to them, with the Vale easily taking the number 1 spot. I think I speak for a lot of Alex fans when I say winning this game would be monumental not just in terms of what it could do for their season, but for local bragging rights. The fans in the away end on Monday at Vale Park deserve a performance and result. Please don't let us down.

Overdue a result

I said it the last 3-4 times these 2 sides have met and I'll say it again now. I'm tired of watching the Alex crumble in this derby. Port Vale have won the last 5 meetings between the 2 sides across all competitions without conceding. They haven't won a match up since August 2017, over 7 years ago, which was also the last time they scored in this fixture. That has got to change.

Now, I'm not going to say I expect the Alex to march into Vale Park against the team with the biggest budget and deepest squad in the league and beat them. But I am expecting a competitive performance full of blood and thunder. Dave Artell, for all his success with the Alex, never seemed to grasp what this game meant. Lee Bell, an Alsager man, should know all about it. And his team should be prepared and play accordingly.

I don't mind if they come up short against a juggernaut opponent. But I am expecting them to give the Vale a run for their money and for them to know they've been in a game. The run of them rolling over and having their bellies tickled needs to end.

Strength in Depth

The Vale are struggling with a few injuries at present. But even so, they still possess a squad that is ridiculously deep for this level. Take their defence. Their back 3 last week against Morecambe was Hall, Heneghan and Sang, with Nathan Smith only a sub. Their midfield was missing Byers and Garrity, but still had Croasdale and Chislett.

Upfront, they had Stockley, Paton and Curtis starting and they were able to bring on Richards and Barker-Boaitey, with Tolaj an unused sub. They are missing players, but such is their depth that they've not missed a beat in their absences. It won't just be the Vale's starting XI the Alex have to contend with.

3pm Kick-Offs, what are they?

This game kick starts a run of games where the Alex will be playing at different times. This one is 8pm on a Monday, then they have two 12:30 lunchtime games against Carlisle and Bradford. Then they have Grimsby in their usual timeslot, before completing the pre-Christmas schedule with a 7:45pm Friday evening game against Colchester. It'll be interesting to see how they cope with a Premier League style schedule over the next few weeks.

Litmus Test

Are the Alex top 3 contenders? I'd say yes on recent evidence. They've played 4 of the current top 10 and have come away with 2 wins and 2 draws. They haven't looked out of place against any of them. But now they face the team with the biggest budget in the league. If, and it's a big if, they can get a win, then this really opens the door to a new world of possibilities. This is their biggest test of the season. Win and they could maybe, just maybe, be title contenders.

Ref Watch

Thomas Kirk

Good Lord. Just when you think the EFL couldn't get an appointment more wrong, they go and give a huge derby game this idiot! For anyone who has forgotten, this is the clown who allowed Salford to counter attack against a still celebrating Alex team at Moor Lane last September, which itself only came from an offside call which never was.

Given the uproar from the team towards Kirk in that game, I worry that we'll get absolutely nothing from him this time around. Oh and did I mention he's averaging 5 yellow cards per game this season? We're in big trouble.

2024/25 Record: 10 Games(1 Championship, 6 League One, 1 League Two, 2 League Cup), 50 yellows, 0 Reds

Last Game: Stockport County 1-0 Wrexham, EFL League One, 16th November 2024, 7 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: 0-0-1, 2 yellows

Injuries/Absences

Port Vale

The Vale are missing a few players, although some of their absences could be the huge squad they have. Definitely out are Mitch Clark and Ben Garrity. Other recent absences which could also be missing are George Byers, Antwoine Hackford, Jessie Debrah and Diamond Edwards.

Crewe Alex

And back to the sidelines Chris Long goes, only for a whole new reason. Thankfully they will be getting Jamie Knight-Lebel and Adrien Thibaut back from international duty and assuming no new injuries occur, the only players missing through injury will be Conor Thomas, Kane Hemmings and Nathan Robinson.

Team

10 of the 11 pick themselves. The only decision you have to make is over whether Jamie Knight-Lebel steps back in for Connolly, or has the latter done enough to keep his place? Last time this happened, Knight-Lebel and Connolly started, with Williams kicking out to LWB and Conway moving to CM. But that was only possible thanks to a Tabiner injury creating space.

Assuming that isn't the case this time around, this will be the dilemma Bell faces. Regardless of which one starts and which one ends up on the bench, his bench once again figures to be a tricky choice. Whilst Thibaut will come back in for Long, you would assume Billington will make way.

Personally, I'm bringing Knight-Lebel straight back, as I think he forms part of their best trio and looks more comfortable on the ball than Connolly. My bench would be: Booth, Connolly, Lunt, Breckin, Powell, Thibaut and Lankester.

Score Prediction

I can't quite bring myself to predict a win, as much as I'd like to. However, my confidence is pretty high that they can go there, stifle the Vale like they did to Doncaster and Walsall and come away with something. For that reason, I'm hoping for and I would take a battling draw, which would see them navigate a very tough 3 game stretch with 5 points nicely banked.

Port Vale 1-1 Crewe Alexandra