STATISTICAL PREVIEW: Port Vale (A)

Introduction

Scunthorpe United will be looking to pick up a morale-boosting win this weekend, as they have a break from National League action. 

They’re set to take on League Two side Port Vale in the First Round of this year’s FA Cup, in what should be an intriguing battle between both teams at Vale Park on Saturday. 

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Match Preview

Scunthorpe United go into Saturday’s game against Port Vale after a 2-1 defeat to Boston United in the National League on 31st October. Tom Cursons scored both Boston United goals, converting a penalty after 14 minutes and adding a second three minutes before half-time. 

James Norwood pulled one back in the 53rd minute, but Scunthorpe United could not find an equaliser.

Port Vale played on the same day and beat Rochdale 4-2 in League Two. Onel Hernández, George Byers from the penalty spot and Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel had them three goals up inside 22 minutes, and Keyrol Figueroa added a fourth with four minutes of normal time left. 

Rochdale made the scoreline closer late on through Ian Henderson and a stoppage-time goal from Tasker.

Scunthorpe United Form Guide

Scunthorpe United had most of the ball at Boston United. They held 59% possession and completed 362 of their 451 passes, but chances were harder to come by. 

Their xG came to 0.84. Boston United reached 1.72, with the penalty alone worth 0.76 of that, and only two of Scunthorpe United’s six shots were on target.

The pressing numbers went up after the break. Scunthorpe United’s PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) was 7.7 across the game and 5.5 in the second half. That meant they made a tackle, interception or challenge roughly every five or six Boston United passes after half-time.

Denton supplied the pass for Norwood’s goal. At the back, Evans won 13 of his 15 aerial duels, more than any other player on the pitch.

Port Vale Form Guide

Port Vale did most of their damage early against Rochdale. They created 2.23 xG in the first half alone, against 0.31 for Rochdale, and the game was effectively settled by the 22nd minute. 

George Byers’ penalty was the biggest single chance of the match at 0.76, and the goal from Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, playing at right wing-back, was worth 0.64.

Their 3-5-2 got the ball into dangerous areas often. Port Vale recorded nine deep completions, passes received within 20 metres of the opponent’s goal, compared with three for Rochdale. Kyle Dempsey made two key passes from central midfield. 

The second half was less comfortable for them. Rochdale produced 1.47 xG after the break to Port Vale’s 0.82, and Port Vale’s pass accuracy fell from 85% in the first half to 74% in the second. Goalkeeper Marko Maroši made three saves, two of them after the interval.

Port Vale v Scunthorpe United Key Duels

The battle in the air could be important. Scunthorpe United won 42 of their 62 aerial duels at Boston United, with Will Evans and Jean Belehouan winning 20 of their 24 between them. 

Port Vale won 26 of their 53 against Rochdale, and Max Watters, who started up front in the 3-5-2, won three of his seven.

At the other end, James Norwood won five of his nine aerial duels last weekend. In the Port Vale back three, Jasper Moon won four of the eight he contested.

The flank between Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and Tyler Denton is also one to watch if both line up as they did last weekend. 

Lawrence-Gabriel won 11 of his 18 duels for Port Vale and scored from right wing-back. Denton won seven of his ten defensive duels for Scunthorpe United, as well as making the pass for Norwood’s goal. 

Conclusion

It’s set to be an interesting battle at Vale Park, and with a spot in the Second Round of the FA Cup up for grabs, the stakes are certainly high for both teams. 

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