Vale face Cheltenham Town today in what is a massive game for us, and new Manager Jim Gannon. We desperately need a win to maintain our promotion challenge, and Gannon needs to win over the Fans after last weeks catastrophe at Gresty Road.
New faces have come in this week, three loan deals - each a month long. Jay O'Shea joins us from Birmingham City, the 22-year-old can operate on either wing, and can also play up front. From West Brom we have two youngsters - Kaylden Brown, 19, and Romaine Sawyers, 18. Both are versatile, able to play midfield or as Strikers. With the current injury problems we have there is an awful lot of pressure on these three to deliver.
Leaving Vale Park this week is Captain Tommy Fraser, who this season has been relegated to Cheerleader, although has been used to devasting effect as an injury time substitution! Fraser has joined Barnet until the end of the season, and so will be back at Vale Park on Tuesday evening. Tommy left on the old 'mutual consent' blag.
Marc Richards and Doug Loft will definitely be missing today through injuries, but Louis Dodds and Sean Rigg are likely to return to the squad after missing the 2-1 defeat at Crewe Alex.
What will we see today? Our home form has been excellent so far this season, only Torquay have come away from Vale Park with three points, but we are decidely on the slide at the present, dropping from top of the table to fourth after enduring a horrific Xmas and new year. The pressure is already on Gannon, after just one league game. Three points, and a bit of style is exactly what we need today...