Opposition Lowdown: Jon Brady’s Port Vale

Form

Port Vale secured promotion back to League One last season, finishing as runners-up in League Two, four points behind champions Doncaster Rovers. They bounced straight back from relegation the previous season, when they finished 23rd in the league.

The Valiants face a real fight on their hands to stay in the league, as they currently sit bottom of the table, 12 points adrift of safety. Their recent form has been mixed, having seen one win, one draw and three losses in their last five games. They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 2-1 away defeat to playoff-chasing Stevenage.

The two sides faced each other back in August when the Royals were victorious, claiming a 1-0 win at the SCL Stadium after a second-half Paddy Lane goal.  

The boss

Jon Brady: Brady was appointed Port Vale manager in January, taking over from Darren Moore, who was sacked in December after almost two years in charge.

The Australian had a playing career as a winger, representing the likes of Rushden & Diamonds, Stevenage Borough and Cambridge United. His first managerial role was at non-league Brackley Town in 2009, where he spent six years before joining Northampton as under-16s coach.  

Brady took over as under-18s coach a year later and then became caretaker manager of the first team in February 2021. He was unable to save the club from relegation to League Two, but was offered the job on a full-time basis that summer.

He spent three and a half years in charge of the Cobblers and guided them back to League One, securing automatic promotion after finishing third in the league in 2023. Brady resigned in December 2024 with the club 23rd in the league.

The 51-year-old has won one of his league games in charge of Vale so far and has a job on his hands to keep the Valiants in League One. Brady likes his sides to control possession and emphasises patience on the ball. 

Squad

Port Vale signed seven players during the winter transfer window with four joining on permanent deals and three coming in on loan.

All permanent additions were frees, with Vale bringing in defender Tyler Magloire, veteran striker Andre Gray, midfielder Grant Ward and winger Onel Hernandez.

Loans included winger Ethon Archer, who signed from Luton Town, and defender Elijah Campbell and striker Martin Sherif, who both joined from Everton.

The Valiants are expected to be without midfielders Ben Garrity, George Byers and Ryan Croasdale. 

Predicted lineup

Gauci, John, Magloire, C. Hall, G. Hall, Humphreys, Shipley, Campbell, Archer, Gray, Stockley

Key player

5. Connor Hall: Defender Hall signed for Port Vale in July 2024 from Colchester United for an undisclosed fee, starting his second spell at the Valiants.

Hall started his career at Bury Town, making his professional debut in 2011, and had a short stint at St Neots Town before rejoining Bury. He built his career in non-league, also representing the likes of Biggleswade Town, Brackley Town and Harrogate Town.

However, it was at Harrogate where Hall had his first taste of life in the Football League, having helped them secure promotion to League Two in 2020. His first spell at Port Vale began in 2022, signing from Harrogate for an undisclosed fee, but he was only at the club for a year before joining Colchester United, where he became captain.

Hall helped Vale secure promotion back to League One in his first season back at the club, while also being named in the League Two team of the season. The 32-year-old is a centre-back who, at 6 foot 4 inches tall, is strong in the air, but he is also comfortable on the ball.   

One to watch

33. George Hall: Midfielder Hall joined Port Vale in September last year from Birmingham City on a permanent deal.

He started his career in the youth setup at the Blues and made his debut for the club in 2022. Hall went on to make 41 appearances for Birmingham, scoring two goals.

Hall spent last season on loan at League Two Walsall but had an injury-hit campaign, which limited his first-team appearances.

The 21-year-old has made 29 appearances for Vale this season, scoring two goals. He has also represented England at under-18 and under-19 level. Hall is an energetic box-to-box midfielder.