Port Vale: Pre-match stats for Vale's League Two clash with Bristol Rovers

PREVIOUS MEETING

League Two: November 20, 2012

PORT VALE 4

(Pope 20, 22, 67, Williamson 35)

BRISTOL ROVERS 0

VALE marked the dawn of a new era with a suitably polished performance on a day of celebration.

New owners Paul Wildes and Norman Smurthwaite were there to watch a thumping victory, which included a Tom Pope hat-trick.

The striker smashed a first-time volley into the corner from 20 yards and it was two soon after when Pope headed home a Vincent cross.

Ben Williamson made it three after an effort from Pope had hit the post, and then Pope nipped in to head home to complete his treble in the second half.

Port Vale: Neal, Duffy, Yates, McCombe, McDonald (Davis, 78), Myrie-Williams, Burge (McAllister, 73), James, Vincent, Pope (Lloyd, 68), Williamson. Subs not used: Dodds, Johnson, Shuker, Taylor.

Bristol Rovers: Etheridge, Woodards (Gill, 46), Brown, Smith, Broghammer (Santos, 60), Parkes, Paterson, Brown, Lund, Clucas (Riordan, 55), Eaves. Subs not used: Lockyer, Virgo, Harrison, Walker.

Attendance: 4,177.

FORM GUIDE

Bristol Rovers: LDLWWL

Port Vale: LWLLDL

WHO WE'D LIKE TO BUY

Eliot Richards, below: The young striker has burst through the ranks to make quite an impression for the Pirates, scoring six times in 16 league starts.

WHO TO BOO

Ryan Brunt: The 19-year-old is a graduate of the Stoke City academy, though he never turned out for the first team.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Fred Graham (Essex): The man in charge of Vale's 3-1 win at Barnet last season has handed out 87 yellow cards this season, but just one red in 27 games.

PROBABLE TEAMS

Bristol Rovers: Mildenhall, Woodards, Brown, Smith, McChrystal, Parkes, Norburn, O'Toole, Brunt, Harrison, Richards.

Port Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, Chilvers, Jones, Myrie-Williams, Burge, Griffith, Vincent, Hughes, Pope.

PREDICTION

Tom Pope ends his nine-game goal drought by bagging a late, late winner as the feel-good factor returns.