The EFL Trophy 2023-24 will kick off this week, with teams playing their first group stage matches. Port Vale will face off against League Two’s Crewe Alexandra at Vale Park on Tuesday night.
The League Two rivals are joined in EFL Trophy Group B by Wrexham and Newcastle United U21.
Alfie Devine: cool as you like. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/wxRd4HXzNA— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) September 2, 2023
Alfie Devine: cool as you like. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/wxRd4HXzNA
Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra met just last week in an EFL Cup 2023-24 second-round fixture.
The match finished nil-nil at the end of 90 minutes and went to penalties, where Port Vale claimed a 2-0 win.
Port Vale followed up the win against Crewe on penalties, with a 2-1 victory over Oxford United.
The Vale are flying high in League One currently. The team is unbeaten in the last six games in all competitions.
Crewe, on the other hand, failed to win four of their last six games in all competitions.
The Railwaymen are coming off a 3-1 win over win against MK Dons at the weekend in League Two.
The combination of the league, EFL Cup, and EFL Trophy fixtures should start piling up for both teams making squad depth important.
Crewe manager Lee Bell may be influenced to rotate the team and give some fresh players minutes against Port Vale. The team is led in goals by centre-back Mickey Demetriou with three goals.
Bell uses a 3-5-2 formation, with wing-backs offering width. Goalkeeper Harvey Davies, on loan from Liverpool, played at the weekend and could start in net once more.
Right-wing Shilow Tracey is the team’s chief creator with three assists.
Bell has no new injury issues going into the game. The only issue Bell may have is fatigue, but it is early in the season.
Port Vale manager Andy Crosby also has a full-strength squad. But like his opposite number, he could choose to rotate the team to freshen up the side.
Crosby favours a 3-4-2-1 formation. He too uses wing-backs to offer width but plays narrow in the final third.
Centre-forward James Wilson leads the Vale in goals this season with two. Port Vale had to make use of loans and free signings in the transfer market.
Their biggest signing was that of attacking midfielder Alfie Devine on loan from Tottenham.
Tuesday’s game will be the second meeting between the clubs in just over a week. Their match in the EFL Cup finished nil-nil after 90 minutes. Can either team find a winner on Tuesday?