Port Vale v Chesterfield preview
Last Updated: December 7, 2012 5:33pm
Pope: Back from suspension
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Port Vale and Chesterfield at Vale Park.
Leading goalscorer Tom Pope will be restored to Port Vale's starting line-up when they resume League Two action.
Pope, along with defender Richard Duffy and midfielder Ryan Burge, all missed the Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat to Bradford on Tuesday night through suspension after receiving their fifth yellow cards of the campaign during the FA Cup loss at Sheffield United last weekend.
Striker Pope, who has already scored 21 goals this term, is certain to be recalled, while manager Micky Adams may have a decision to make about whether Duffy and Burge come back in after Liam Chilvers, skipper Doug Loft and midfielder Sam Morsy returned to the side in midweek.
Defender Clayton McDonald, midfielders Ryan Lloyd, Robert Taylor and Chris Shuker and striker Louis Dodds are also options for Adams, who is backing his players to put their cup disappointments behind them and turn focus on their promotion ambitions.
"It's easy to say after you've been hammered in a cup competition, but all we've got to concentrate on now is the league," said Adams.
"We've got to quickly regroup and get ourselves ready for an important game. At least the suspensions were used up for the Johnstone's paint Trophy game and the players will be back for Chesterfield.
"I think you'll see a better performance on Saturday. You'll see a team hungry to do well in the league."
Loan pair Brennan Dickenson and James O'Shea come back into the reckoning for Chesterfield.
Brighton striker Dickenson was ineligible for the 2-1 FA Cup defeat by npower League One leaders Tranmere while MK Dons midfielder O'Shea was cup-tied for the second-round clash at Prenton Park.
The Spireites came through the game against Rovers without sustaining any injury problems.
As well as Dickenson and O'Shea, manager Paul Cook also has the likes of midfielder Mark Randall and strikers Jack Lester and Scott Boden pushing for recalls to the starting line up.
Chesterfield head to Vale Park in good form having won their last three league matches.
Cook also has a victory over Vale already this season, guiding his former club Accrington to a 2-0 home success back in August.
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
