2020–21 Port Vale F.C. season

The 2020–21 Port Vale F.C. season is the club's 109th season in the English Football League, and fourth consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Port Vale
2020–21 season
OwnerSynsol Holdings Limited
ChairpersonCarol Shanahan
ManagerJohn Askey (until 4 January)[1]
Danny Pugh (caretaker from 4 January)[1]
StadiumVale Park
League Two16th (32 points)
FA CupFirst round
(knocked out by King's Lynn Town)
EFL CupSecond round
(knocked out by Fleetwood Town)
EFL TrophyThird round
(knocked out by Sunderland}
Top goalscorerLeague: Devante Rodney (9)
All: Devante Rodney (10)
Average home league attendance0 (behind closed doors)
Biggest win5–1 vs. Southend United, 30 January 2021
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Mansfield Town, 2 January 2021

Going into his second full season as the club's manager, John Askey kept largely the same squad that finished just outside the play-offs in 2019–20, signing just seven players before the season kicked off in September. No fans were allowed to attend matches due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Vale exited the EFL Cup at the second round but were second in the league by the end of September. Four wins and three defeats in seven games saw them maintain a play-off place in October. However they lost six matches in November, causing them to exit the FA Cup at the first round to non-League King's Lynn Town and drop firmly into mid-table in the league. Pressure built over the Christmas period as Vale ended the year 16th in the table and Askey left the club on 4 January, two days after a 4–0 defeat to Mansfield Town. Danny Pugh spent the rest of the month as caretaker-manager, overseeing comprehensive victories over Grimsby Town and Southend United as well as an exit from the EFL Trophy and two defeats in games he was unable to attend due to him testing positive for COVID-19.

David Flitcroft was appointed as the club's first ever director of football in February.

Overview

EFL League Two

On 7 July 2020, manager John Askey made his first summer signing in 22-year old striker Devante Rodney, who had been released by Salford City.[2] Two weeks later he brought in versatile right-back Zak Mills, who had been released by Oldham Athletic, in order to provide competition for James Gibbons.[3] Tom Pope began the season with a six match ban after a Twitter post he made in January was judged to have amounted to Antisemitic canard.[4] Askey meanwhile continued to strengthen the squad, bringing in midfielder Danny Whitehead, who had also played under Askey at Macclesfield Town and had just been released from Salford City.[5] The club kit was revealed later that week, the unique “V” patterned home strip having partly designed by Robbie Williams, club owner Carol Shanahan and her son Patrick.[6] Askey looked at a number of players on trial during pre-season, including free agents Dino Visser, Harvey Bradbury, Rhys Lovett, Ethan Beckford and David Fitzpatrick, as well as Nottingham Forest academy player Kieran Hayes.[7][8][9][10] However the next signing, a fourth and final striker, was Theo Robinson, who had played for the club in 2016.[11] He also signed trialist left-back David Fitzpatrick, another of his former charges at Macclesfield, on a one-year deal.[12] He completed the squad with goalkeeper Dino Visser, who "did everything asked of him" in his trial.[13] However winger Rhys Browne left the club by mutual consent, citing family reasons; Askey said that "it was a shame because he was doing well".[14] Askey looked to replace him quickly by bringing in Harry McKirdy (free agent) and Ryan McLean (Newcastle Town) on trial and went on to sign McKirdy to a one-year deal.[15][16]

Vale opened the season with a convincing 2–0 home win over Crawley Town on 12 September, Mark Cullen scoring both of the goals; this extended the club's record of not losing a league opening fixture since 2004.[17] The following week they travelled to St James Park, home of the previous season's play-off finalists, and picked up another 2–0 win, with Tom Conlon scoring a goal and providing the assist for Rodney's first goal for the club.[18] Port Vale met Harrogate Town in a league fixture for the first time on 29 September and the two teams played out a 0–0 draw in a hard-fought game.[19] Askey was nominated for the EFL League Two Manager of the Month award as the team had secured seven points from nine without conceding a goal.[20]

Going into October, Vale were beaten 1–0 at Morecambe after Shaun Brisley gave away a soft penalty with 14 minutes left to play; after the game opposition manager Derek Adams stated that the gameplan had been to stop Luke Joyce getting on the ball and to play on the counter attack.[21] With right-back James Gibbons sidelined with a long-term injury, Askey brought in Leicester City full-back Mitch Clark for his third loan spell at the club.[22] He started at home to Carlisle United on 10 October, a game in which Vale lost 1–0 after Rodney missed a free header and Pope missed a penalty.[23] They got back to winning ways at home to Paul Scholes's Salford City; Scott Brown saved a penalty and Cristian Montaño went on to score the game's only goal with four minutes left to play.[24] However they fell to a 3–1 defeat at league leaders Cambridge United three days later, with Paul Mullin claiming a hat-trick.[25] A trip to struggling Oldham Athletic followed and Vale claimed all three points from Boundary Park thanks to goals from Nathan Smith and Mitch Clark.[26] They went on to pick up back-to-back wins after coming from a goal down to claim a 2–1 home victory over Cheltenham Town.[27] A brace from Pope on Halloween saw the Vale win at bottom-placed Southend United.[28]

On 14 November, Vale fell to a 4–3 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers; they had been leading 2–0 at half-time but the game changed in the away side's favour after Joyce was sent off on 52 minutes.[29] The game had many talking points besides the sending off, including a goal disallowed for either side, a penalty for either side and the way Vale reacted to going a man down.[30] Three days later Vale would lose 1–0 to Scunthorpe United thanks to a superb strike from Abo Eisa.[31] A third consecutive league defeat followed as Vale failed to hold on to a 0–0 draw at league leaders Newport County after Leon Legge was sent off for picking up two yellow cards; Newport's goal was scored six minutes into injury-time by 41-year old Kevin Ellison.[32] Second-from-bottom Stevenage seemed like the perfect place to end the losing run, but Vale were beaten 2–1.[33] They finished off the month by losing 3–2 at home to Leyton Orient, conceding the winning goal five minutes from time.[34]

The trip to Bolton Wanderers on 5 December saw an away side on a run of five defeats visit a side on a six game winning spell. Vale defied the odds to a record a 6–3 victory, in a game with nine different goalscorers, becoming the first away side to score six goals at the University of Bolton Stadium.[35] The next week Vale outperformed Colchester United but only held on to the lead for seven minutes after allowing the away side to equalise after a lapse in defensive concentration.[36] Another 1–1 home draw with a play-off team followed, this time Forest Green Rovers equalising just seven minutes after Vale opened the scoring with an own goal.[37] The team's trip to Walsall's Bescot Stadium started excellently as they led 2–0 at half-time, however the home side made four changes during the break and equalised after 11 minutes and despite Rodney putting Vale back in front, Walsall went on to win the game 4–3 after Jake Scrimshaw and Dan Scarr completed second half braces.[38] Barrow then inflicted a Boxing day defeat on the side at Vale Park, with former loanee Scott Quigley opening the scoring thanks to an assist from former Vale captain Antony Kay; after the match Askey admitted that "the wheels have just fallen off" the club's promotion campaign as they slipped to 17th in the table.[39] He named three academy players on the bench at Valley Parade on 29 December, as Vale saw out 2020 with a 0–0 draw with Bradford City.[40]

The new year began with a 4–0 defeat at Mansfield Town thanks to a Jordan Bowery hat-trick and Legge being sent off for the second time of the season; speaking in his post-match interview, Askey alluded to "a lot of strange happenings going", saying that "it’s not a level playing field at the moment".[41] This proved to be Askey's last game in charge and he left the club on 4 January, with coach Danny Pugh stepping in as caretaker-manager.[1] Pugh made Conlon the new club captain.[42] Pugh selected a 4–4–2 formation for first game in charge, a 3–0 home win over Grimsby Town that proved to be a stark contrast to their defeat seven days previously.[43] The club then signed Jake Taylor, a 22-year old midfielder who had impressed on loan from Nottingham Forest the previous season, to a three-and-a-half-year deal.[44] With Pope ruled out injured for the rest of the season, the club also brought in striker Kurtis Guthrie after he secured his release from Bradford City.[45] In order to comply with EFL squad limit rules the club deregistered Harry McKirdy and Theo Robinson so as to make room for the two new signings.[46] Guthrie started on the bench at Forest Green Rovers on 16 January, which ended as a 1–1 draw following a late equalising goal from Rodney.[47] However two days later, Pugh had to start self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19; his assistants – Frank Sinclair, Billy Paynter and Anthony Griffith took over first-team duties in his absence.[48] They oversaw a 3–1 defeat to Walsall in which Brown played poorly and allowed a weak back-pass to bobble over his foot and into the back of the net.[49] The bad run continued at Scunthorpe, as poor defending allowed a brace from Ryan Loft to condemn Vale to a 2–0 loss;[50] stand-in manager Frank Sinclair said that "it wasn’t good enough, especially the first half".[51] Pugh returned to the touchline in time to oversee a 5–1 victory over bottom-club Southend United, who Pope described as "the worst professional side I have ever seen".[52][53] On transfer deadline day the club signed 19-year old centre-back Mustapha Olagunju on loan from Huddersfield Town and 20-year old striker Will Swan on loan from Nottingham Forest.[54][55]

The search for a new manager continued into February, with David Flitcroft and John McGreal seen as the two front-runners for the position.[56] The team went on to lose 3–1 at Tranmere, with James Vaughan scoring a brace.[57] Flitcroft was appointed as the club's first ever director of football on 8 February.[58]

Finances

The season began with no fans allowed into any grounds across the English Football League due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in England, with initial plans were to see crowds return to stadiums in October. However these plans were halted due to a rise in cases nationally in September.[59] Port Vale fans bought around 4,000 season tickets regardless, the same as during the previous season, and shirt sales were also at a record high; chairperson Carol Shanahan said that "the club are overwhelmed and beyond grateful in the trust and support we have been shown by Port Vale fans".[60]

Cup competitions

Port Vale were drawn at home to King's Lynn Town (National League) in the first round of the FA Cup, the first ever meeting between the two clubs. Vale lost the game 1–0 as King's Lynn claimed their first clean sheet of the season.[61]

The first round draw of the EFL Cup was made by Paul Merson and set Port Vale away at Scunthorpe United (League Two).[62] Vale won the tie with Zac Mills and Theo Robinson scoring debut goals in a 2–1 win.[63] The draw for both the second and third rounds were confirmed simultaneously, and guaranteed the club a home tie with Everton (Premier League) or Salford City (League Two) if they managed to first overcome Fleetwood Town (League One).[64] Askey made ten changes against Fleetwood and was encouraged by his team's performance in a 2–1 defeat.[65]

The regional group stage draw for the EFL Trophy placed Port Vale in a group with Tranmere Rovers (League Two), Wigan Athletic (League One) and Liverpool under-21s.[66] They drew their home fixture with Tranmere Rovers 0–0 and Visser went on to save three penalties in the shoot-out to secure two points for the Vale.[67] They effectively booked their place into the next round with a 3–1 victory at Wigan Athletic, in which Robinson scored a brace.[68] Vale finished top of the group with a 4–2 home win over Liverpool U21.[69] They then advanced into the third round with a 2–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21.[70] In the third round, an away tie at League One giants Sunderland proved too much for a Vale side with seven changes from their last league fixture, as the "Black Cats" claimed a 2–0 victory; it was later revealed that Pope broke his arm with 19 minutes left to play and he carried on playing until the full-time whistle.[71][72]

Results

Pre-season
15 August 2020 Friendly Port Vale 1–2 Blackpool Burslem
15:00 BST Burgess  51' Report Kaikai  43'
Anderson  54'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
18 August 2020 Friendly Fleetwood Town 1–2 Port Vale Thornton-Cleveleys
15:00 BST Saunders  33' Report Conlon  10'
Browne  35' (pen.)		 Stadium: Poolfoot Farm
Attendance: 0
Referee: Simon Mather
26 August 2020 Friendly Nottingham Forest 1–2 Port Vale Loughborough
15:00 BST Mighten Report OG
Robinson 		Stadium: Loughborough University
Attendance: 0
29 August 2020 Friendly Port Vale 2–1 Rochdale Burslem
15:00 BST Conlon  45' (pen.), 56' (pen.) Report Morley  65' (pen.) Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Rob Lewis

EFL League Two
Main article: 2020–21 EFL League Two

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
12 Crawley Town 25 9 8 8 36 34 +2 35
13 Oldham Athletic 26 10 4 12 41 46 −5 34
14 Mansfield Town 25 7 12 6 33 31 +2 33
15 Harrogate Town 27 9 6 12 31 34 −3 33
16 Port Vale 28 9 5 14 40 43 −3 32
17 Scunthorpe United 26 10 2 14 28 34 −6 32[lower-alpha 1]
18 Colchester United 26 7 11 8 28 34 −6 32[lower-alpha 1]
19 Bolton Wanderers 26 8 8 10 31 38 −7 32
20 Bradford City 25 8 7 10 27 30 −3 31
Updated to match(es) played on 9 February 2021. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[73]
Notes:
  1. Ranked on matches won: Scunthorpe United 10, Colchester United 7.

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
28 9 5 14 39 42  −3 32 5 3 6 23 21  +2 4 2 8 16 21  −5

Last updated: 6 February 2021.
Source: BBC

Results by matchday
Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAAHAH
ResultWWDLLWLWWWLLLLLWDDLLDLWDLLWL
Position3225108131075889111311141316171617131416161516
Updated to match(es) played on 12 December 2020. Source: 11v11 for league tables and fixtures
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

12 September 2020 1 Port Vale 2–0 Crawley Town Burslem
15:00 BST Cullen  39', 66' Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Allison
19 September 2020 2 Exeter City 0–2 Port Vale Exeter
15:00 BST Report Conlon  21'
Rodney  72'		 Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Purkiss
26 September 2020 3 Port Vale 0–0 Harrogate Town Burslem
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Toner
3 October 2020 4 Morecambe 1–0 Port Vale Morecambe
15:00 BST Phillips  76' (pen.) Report Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madley
10 October 2020 5 Port Vale 0–1 Carlisle United Burslem
15:00 BST Report Mellish  55' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: James Bell
17 October 2020 6 Port Vale 1–0 Salford City Burslem
15:00 BST Montaño  86' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: James Adcock
20 October 2020 7 Cambridge United 3–1 Port Vale Cambridge
19:45 BST Mullin  3' (pen.), 51', 90+5' Report Robinson  18' (pen.) Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Trevor Kettle
24 October 2020 8 Oldham Athletic 1–2 Port Vale Oldham
15:00 BST Dearnley  50' Report Smith  12'
Clark  39'		 Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Martin Coy
27 October 2020 9 Port Vale 2–1 Cheltenham Town Burslem
19:45 GMT Legge  52'
Worrall  68'		 Report Williams  48' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Dean Whitestone
31 October 2020 10 Southend United 0–2 Port Vale Southend-on-Sea
15:00 GMT Report Pope  48', 64' Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 0
Referee: Tom Nield
14 November 2020 11 Port Vale 3–4 Tranmere Rovers Burslem
19:45 GMT Conlon  16' (pen.)
Amoo  24'
Rodney  75'		 Report Vaughan  58', 71' (pen.)
Woolery  90+3'
Morris  90+6'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Carl Brook
17 November 2020 12 Port Vale 0–1 Scunthorpe United Burslem
19:00 GMT Report Eisa  28' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Leigh Doughty
21 November 2020 13 Newport County 1–0 Port Vale Newport, Wales
15:00 GMT Ellison  90+6' Report Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Young
24 November 2020 14 Stevenage 2–1 Port Vale Stevenage
19:45 GMT Oteh  10'
Newton  53'		 Report Rodney  81' Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 0
Referee: Paul Howard
28 November 2020 15 Port Vale 2–3 Leyton Orient Burslem
13:00 GMT Legge  8'
Montaño  76'		 Report Johnson  11'
Wilkinson  31'
Brophy  85'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Wright
5 December 2020 16 Bolton Wanderers 3–6 Port Vale Horwich
15:00 GMT Jones  11'
Doyle  66'
Isgrove  78'		 Report Oyeleke  6'
Legge  9'
Conlon  42' (pen.)
Montaño  46'
Worrall  50'
Smith  62'		 Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Carl Boyeson
12 December 2020 17 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
15:00 GMT Rodney  58' Report Norris  65' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Sarginson
15 December 2020 18 Port Vale 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Burslem
19:45 GMT Stokes  34' (og.) Report Collins  41' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Charles Breakspear
19 December 2020 19 Walsall 4–3 Port Vale Walsall
15:00 GMT Scrimshaw  52', 80'
Scarr  56', 82'		 Report Pope  37'
Conlon  44'
Rodney  75'		 Stadium: Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
26 December 2020 20 Port Vale 0–2 Barrow Burslem
15:00 GMT Report Quigley  23'
Brough  50'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Barrott
29 December 2020 21 Bradford City 0–0 Port Vale Bradford
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Wright
2 January 2021 22 Mansfield Town 4–0 Port Vale Mansfield
15:00 GMT Clarke  1'
Bowery  32', 77' (pen.), 80'		 Report Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Toner
9 January 2021 23 Port Vale 3–0 Grimsby Town Burslem
15:00 GMT Brisley  8'
Rodney  15'
Waterfall  60' (og.)		 Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Graham Salisbury
16 January 2021 24 Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Port Vale Nailsworth
15:00 GMT Cadden  20' Report Rodney  76' Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Johnson
23 January 2021 25 Port Vale 1–3 Walsall Burslem
15:00 GMT Conlon  33' Report Adebayo  6', 55'
Fitzpatrick  68' (og.)		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Lee Swabey
26 January 2021 26 Scunthorpe United 0–2 Port Vale Scunthorpe
19:45 GMT Report Loft  26', 32' Stadium: Glanford Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: James Bell
30 January 2021 27 Port Vale 5–1 Southend United Burslem
15:00 GMT Rodney  1', 45+2'
Cordner  20' (og.)
Crookes  27'
Oyeleke  89'		 Report Ferguson  85' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Carl Brook
6 February 2021 28 Tranmere Rovers 3–1 Port Vale Birkenhead
15:00 GMT Woolery  17'
Vaughan  30', 59'		 Report Taylor  41' Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Young
13 February 2021 29 Port Vale v Newport County Burslem
15:00 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
20 February 2021 30 Leyton Orient v Port Vale Leyton
15:00 GMT Stadium: Brisbane Road
23 February 2021 31 Port Vale v Stevenage Burslem
19:45 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
27 February 2021 32 Port Vale v Cambridge United Burslem
15:00 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
2 March 2021 33 Salford City v Port Vale Salford
19:45 GMT Stadium: Moor Lane
6 March 2021 34 Cheltenham Town v Port Vale Cheltenham
15:00 GMT Stadium: Whaddon Road
9 March 2021 35 Port Vale v Oldham Athletic Burslem
19:45 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
13 March 2021 36 Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers Burslem
15:00 GMT Stadium: Vale Park
20 March 2021 37 Colchester United v Port Vale Colchester
15:00 GMT Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium
27 March 2021 38 Crawley Town v Port Vale Crawley
15:00 GMT Stadium: Broadfield Stadium
2 April 2021 39 Port Vale v Exeter City Burslem
15:00 BST Stadium: Vale Park
5 April 2021 40 Harrogate Town v Port Vale Harrogate
15:00 BST Stadium: Wetherby Road
10 April 2021 41 Port Vale v Morecambe Burslem
15:00 BST Stadium: Vale Park
17 April 2021 42 Carlisle United v Port Vale Carlisle
15:00 BST Stadium: Brunton Park
20 April 2021 43 Barrow v Port Vale Barrow-in-Furness
19:45 BST Stadium: Holker Street
24 April 2021 44 Port Vale v Bradford City Burslem
15:00 BST Stadium: Vale Park
1 May 2021 45 Grimsby Town v Port Vale Cleethorpes
15:00 BST Stadium: Blundell Park
8 May 2021 46 Port Vale v Mansfield Town Burslem
15:00 BST Stadium: Vale Park

FA Cup
Main article: 2020–21 FA Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss

7 November 2020 First round Port Vale 0–1 King's Lynn Town Burslem
15:00 GMT Report Carey  82' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: David Richardson

EFL Cup
Main article: 2020–21 EFL Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss

5 September 2020 First round Scunthorpe United 1–2 Port Vale Scunthorpe
15:00 BST Loft  69' Report Mills  45+5'
Robinson  90+3'		 Stadium: Sands Venue Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Neil Hair
15 September 2020 Second round Fleetwood Town 2–1 Port Vale Fleetwood
19:00 BST Madden  14'
Morris  75'		 Report Whitehead  49' Stadium: Highbury Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ross Joyce

EFL Trophy
Main article: 2020–21 EFL Trophy

  Win   Draw   Loss

Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 L2 Port Vale 3 2 1 0 0 7 3 +4 8 Advance to Round 2
2 L2 Tranmere Rovers 3 1 1 1 0 5 4 +1 6
3 L1 Wigan Athletic 3 1 0 1 1 9 6 +3 4
4 ACA Liverpool U21 3 0 0 0 3 5 13 −8 0
Source: EFL.com
8 September 2020 Group stage Port Vale 0–0
(4–3 p)		 Tranmere Rovers Burslem
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Declan Bourne
Penalties
Whitehead
Cullen
Conlon
Trickett-Smith
Rodney
Fitzpatrick 		Banks
Khan
Morris
O'Connor
Payne
Walker-Rice
6 October 2020 Group stage Wigan Athletic 1–3 Port Vale Wigan
19:45 BST Pearce  79' Report Robinson  13', 30'
Montaño  55'		 Stadium: DW Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Barrott
10 November 2020 Group stage Port Vale 4–2 Liverpool U21 Burslem
19:45 GMT Cullen  12'
Hurst  19'
McKirdy  61'
Rodney  64'		 Report Millar  11', 34' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Thomas Bramall
8 December 2020 (2020-12-08) Second round Port Vale 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Burslem
19:00 GMT McKirdy  27'
Mills  80'		 Report Perry  20' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Scott Oldham
12 January 2021 (2021-01-12) Third round Sunderland 2–0 Port Vale Sunderland
18:00 GMT O'Brien  21'
McGeady  90+7' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 0
Referee: Declan Bourne

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals
Pos. # Name EFL League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK1 Scott Brown 280101000300
DF2 James Gibbons 4000001050
DF3 Adam Crookes 91101040151
MF4 Luke Joyce 240102020290
DF5 Leon Legge 203101010233
DF6 Nathan Smith 262101040322
MF7 David Worrall 232102010272
MF8 Manny Oyeleke 112001020142
FW9 Tom Pope 143100030183
MF10 Tom Conlon 245101040305
MF11 Cristian Montaño 163001041214
FW12 Theo Robinson 141102152224
FW13 Mark Cullen 102001031143
FW14 Kurtis Guthrie 5000000050
DF15 Zak Mills 160002121202
DF16 Shaun Brisley 131001040181
MF17 Jake Taylor 5100001061
MF18 Danny Whitehead 100002130150
MF19 David Amoo 161100020191
MF20 Scott Burgess 180102040250
FW21 Devante Rodney 2590010312910
MF22 Harry McKirdy 5010102292
DF23 Ryan Campbell-Gordon 0000000000
DF24 David Fitzpatrick 220001040270
MF25 Daniel Trickett-Smith 0000101020
MF26 Luke Chambers 0000000000
MF27 Alex Hurst 130001051191
DF28 Michael Lennon 0000000000
FW29 Eden Bailey 0000000000
GK30 Dino Visser 0000105060
GK31 Joe Collinge 0000000000
GK32 Tom Scott 0000000000
DF33 Mustapha Olagunju 0000000000
FW34 Will Swan 1000000010
Players that left the club mid-season:
DF17 Mitch Clark 111100000121
MF Rhys Browne 0000000000

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Number Name EFL League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
1FW England21Devante Rodney900110
2MF England10Tom Conlon50005
–MF Colombia11Cristian Montaño30014
–FW Jamaica12Theo Robinson10124
5FW England13Mark Cullen20013
–DF England5Leon Legge30003
–FW England9Tom Pope30003
8MF England22Harry McKirdy00022
–DF England15Zak Mills00112
–MF England8Manny Oyeleke20002
–DF England6Nathan Smith20002
–MF England7David Worrall20002
13DF England19David Amoo10001
–DF England16Shaun Brisley10001
–DF Wales17Mitch Clark10001
–DF England3Adam Crookes10001
–FW England27Alex Hurst00011
–MF England17Jake Taylor10001
–MF England18Danny Whitehead00101
––––Own goals30003
TOTALS 40 0 3 9 51

Disciplinary record
Number Nation Position Name EFL League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
5 EnglandDFLeon Legge7210100092
4 EnglandMFLuke Joyce3100000031
11 ColombiaMFCristian Montaño5000100060
16 EnglandDFShaun Brisley3000101050
10 EnglandMFTom Conlon1010002040
15 EnglandDFZak Mills2000100030
1 EnglandGKScott Brown2000000020
21 EnglandFWDevante Rodney2000000020
7 EnglandMFDavid Worrall2000000020
19 EnglandMFDavid Amoo1000000010
17 WalesDFMitch Clark1000000010
3 EnglandDFAdam Crookes1000000010
24 EnglandDFDavid Fitzpatrick0000001010
14 EnglandFWKurtis Guthrie1000000010
27 EnglandMFAlex Hurst0000100010
8 EnglandMFManny Oyeleke1000000010
6 EnglandDFNathan Smith1000000010
18 EnglandMFDanny Whitehead1000000010
TOTALS 34 3 2 0 5 0 4 0 45 3

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
7 July 2020CFDevante RodneySalford CityFree transfer[2]
16 July 2020RBZak MillsOldham AthleticFree transfer[3]
3 August 2020CMDanny WhiteheadSalford CityFree transfer[5]
24 August 2020CFTheo RobinsonSouthend UnitedFree transfer[11]
25 August 2020LBDavid FitzpatrickMacclesfield TownFree transfer[12]
27 August 2020GKDino VisserCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[13]
11 September 2020AMHarry McKirdyCarlisle UnitedFree transfer[16]
11 January 2021CMJake TaylorNottingham ForestUndisclosed[44]
15 January 2021CFKurtis GuthrieBradford CityFree transfer[45]
25 January 2021GKTom ScottManchester CityFree transfer[74]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref.
9 October 2020RBMitch ClarkLeicester City1 January 2021[22]
1 February 2021CBMustapha OlagunjuHuddersfield TownEnd of season[55]
1 February 2021MFWill SwanNottingham ForestEnd of season[54]

Loans out
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref.
19 September 2020LBRyan Campbell-GordonHednesford Town26 October 2020[75]
13 October 2020AMDaniel Trickett-SmithLeek Town1 January 2021[76]
27 October 2020LBRyan Campbell-GordonGainsborough Trinity1 January 2021[77]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
5 August 2020FWMaxwell ChimenesNewcastle TownFree transfer[78]
29 August 2020RWRhys BrowneWealdstoneMutual consent[14][79]
23 September 2020CMHayden CampbellSalford CityFree transfer[80]

References
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