By Ashley Colbourn
Struggling Port Vale host Cheltenham Town on Saturday. This is former fan favourite Neil Aspin’s second game in charge of the Stoke-on Trent based club.
The Valiants narrowly lost out to Grimsby 2-1 last time around, and will be keen to put an end to a run of three straight defeats.
Vale currently sit 23rd in the League Two table, having accrued only five points from their 12 games, with three of those from their opening day victory at Crawley Town.
The Midlands based club will have to do without Colombian midfielder Cristian Montano who is unlikely to be risked having made his comeback for the Under 23’s in midweek.
Aspin told portvale.co.uk where his focus lies ahead of the match: “I’ve tried to concentrate on ourselves rather than the opposition. We are obviously mindful of who we are playing against, but we can’t go into games worrying about our position.”
Cheltenham Town go in to the match unbeaten in their last five, including a 2-1 victory over local rivals Swindon thanks to a stoppage time winner from Danny Wright last time out.
Their recent upturn in form sees them occupy the 12th spot, a considerable improvement on their ultimately successful relegation battle last season.
Manager Gary Johnson will have on loan Bristol City striker Freddie Hinds available for selection after sitting out their derby day victory through illness. Kevin Dawson is also hoping to make the matchday squad having recovered from a knee injury.
Johnson spoke to the club website with a warning for his players: “Port Vale are a good team, they have some big names that have had big careers. We mustn’t go there thinking just because they are bottom of the table we will get a result.”