Crewe v Port Vale preview
Thursday 20 September 2018 17:57, UK
Midfielder Oliver Finney may be given a chance to have some game time after appearing on the bench for Crewe's last two matches.
Finney has impressed manager David Artell with strong performances in the under-23 side, scoring three goals in four games. Kevin O'Connor will be hoping to get an outing after only appearing on the bench in Crewe's last game at Cheltenham, following a heavy collision during the Checkatrade trophy match against Tranmere.
Eddie Nolan (calf), Paul Green (knee) and Harry Pickering (hamstring) however are all sidelined with injury.
Port Vale striker Scott Quigley is pushing for a start after featuring in the last three games from the bench and he also notched a double in Vale's reserve team victory over Notts County. Meanwhile defender Cristian Montano is unlikely to face Crewe after suffering a knee injury.
Midfielder Ben Whitfield will be keen to play a full match after scoring in the last game against Exeter, having been subbed off in his last two games. Vale are one place and two points ahead of Crewe in the Sky Bet League One table, having played a game more.
Opta stats
Crewe are unbeaten in their last three home league matches against Port Vale (W1 D2) since losing 2-1 in November 2013.
Crewe and Port Vale met three times last season (twice in League Two, once in the Football League Trophy), with those matches producing 11 goals.
Crewe are unbeaten in eight home matches in all competitions (W5 D3), last having a longer run between January and August 2012 (14 matches).
Port Vale are winless in 16 away league games (W0 D7 L9), their worst run since going 19 without a win on the road between November 1999 and October 2000.
Only Cheltenham (17), Notts County and Macclesfield (both 20) have made more changes to their starting line up so far this season in League Two than Crewe (16).
