Three things to expect from tonight’s cup clash (and three things not to expect)

August 14, 2018 Gary League Two, Port Vale 4

Expect to see: Grant Smith start

Smith hasn’t been seen in action for City as yet, not competitively, but he’s likely to get a run out tonight. Josh Vickers made his debut at Rotherham in the same competition last season and thoroughly impressed.

Smith hasn’t been brought to simply play second fiddle and whilst Vickers is the number one, Smith can expect to play in the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy at the very least. There might even be an argument for him appearing in the FA Cup, depending on how far we go.

If we progress to a decent stage then the likelihood of the number one retaining his place is high, but a decent performance tonight would give Danny a selection headache.

That said, Vickers has started well, his Man of the Match display against Northampton should have been followed by a second clean sheet this weekend, had Swindon not been gifted a goal.

 

Don’t expect: Three at the back

I would be very surprised this evening if we played with three at the back. If the squad is being rotated, do we have enough players to play three in the centre of defence as well as the full backs?

Adam Crookes might come in at left back for Harry Toffolo, maybe James Wilson will play right back, if not he’ll almost certainly player centrally. There’s likely to be a first start for Jason Shackell too, which tells you how far we’ve come as a team. Last season, our so-called ‘reserve’ centre back pairing were both with Championship clubs. Shackell was at Derby and played for Millwall, Wilson at Sheffield United on loan with Walsall.

Shackell won’t be on the bench for long though and tonight will mark the first of 30+ starts for him this season.

3 Comments

  2. Well Gary, it’s plain to see that despite your “inside track”, in reality your predictions are as thin as those of the rest of us! Only Danny and Nicky Cowley know what formation and players will be selected . But hey, keep getting the predictions wrong please, we are all loving this free scoring start to the season and long may it last!

  3. 3 at the back with Shackell starting? check

    Crookes and Luque playing at some point? Nope (I was surprised by that too, Luque’s keep-it-off-the-ground passing game with Andrade had us enthralled before the game, Luque won and has talent in spades)

    Not a free-flowing thrashing? Nope. Pett was immense, yet may not start on Saturday.

    Bloody hell, we were good. And all with Bossie, Eardley and Vickers at home with their stamp collections or whatever they do in their free time.

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