Match preview | Port Vale vs Wrexham

The Valiants welcome Wrexham to our final group game in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Despite both sides having already qualified for the knockout rounds, much is still at stake as Vale need a win to finish top of Group B and secure a home clash in the next round.

After the first two group games, Vale are in 2nd place with five points. In our first game we traveled to Salford City and won 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Ruari Paton and Diamond Edwards.

In our second match we welcomed Wolves U21s. Tom Edozie gave Wolves the lead after half an hour before Lorent Tolaj equalized for Vale fifteen minutes into the second half. Wolves thought they had won it when Fletcher Holman’s long-range strike put his side ahead in the 86th minute. However, Ronan Curtis equalized in the 89th minute with a close-range effort. The Valiants would eventually earn an extra point after a 5-4 win on penalties.

Gaffer’s thoughts

The gaffer talks about the potential benefits that the Bristol Street Motors Trophy presents to the football club:

“With the competition, it’s not seen as a glamorous competition from the outside, but for us as a football club, it gives us financial gain. The further you go in it, it can help the club with stability and financial rewards.”

“It’s also an opportunity for clubs in the bottom two tiers to come to Wembley. I’ve been lucky enough to grace the old Wembley and the new Wembley and it’s a fantastic arena and an opportunity for all supporters. It’s a wonderful arena, and this competition provides that opportunity. There is a long way to go, but if you want to succeed, you have to start somewhere”

The opposition

Wrexham have started the season well and currently sit 3rd in Sky Bet League One with 28 points. The Red Dragons come into the match on the back of a 1-0 win against Mansfield Town on Saturday. Ryan Barnett’s low strike in the 6th minute was enough to earn his side all three points.

Wrexham have a perfect record in this season’s EFL Trophy having beaten both Salford City and Wolves U21s. William Boyle’s 83rd-minute winner helped them beat Salford 2-1 at SToK Cae Ras, before The Red Dragons comfortably beat Wolves U21s 3-0 thanks to goals from Mo Faal, Lewis Brunt and Paul Mullin.

Vale and Wrexham met in exactly the same situation last season. Both sides had already qualified but the winners would top the group. A young Vale side were eventually beaten 2-1 by Wrexham in Wales.

Who is responsible?

Former Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson is in charge of Wrexham. He became the club’s manager in July 2021 and has played a major role in his team’s rise from the National League to League One.

On their way to the Football League, he guided Wrexham to 111 points in their record-breaking National League season as they went up as champions after a dramatic race to the top with Notts County. This points tally broke the record for most points scored in a league season in the top five leagues in English football.

In Parkinson’s time at Wrexham, he has managed 183 games and won 113, giving him an astonishing 61% win rate as a manager.

Player to watch – Paul Mullin

It is always difficult to predict who will start in these Bristol Street Trophy games, but Paul Mullin has played and scored in both of his side’s games this season.

Despite scoring just once in the league all season, Mullin is always a threat in front of goal. In his time at Wrexham, Mullin has scored 108 goals in just 155 games and has played a central role in their rise up the English football pyramid.

Another player to keep an eye on right sided defenseman Ryan Barnett. The 25-year-old was the match-winner on Saturday after he put a low strike into the bottom corner in the 6th minute. This was his first goal of the season and his sixth involved in the campaign after chipping in with five assists from right wing back.

Fixture Throwback

Port Vale 2-1 Wrexham AFC, Friday 4 November 2005

It’s 19 years since the Valiants last beat Wrexham. Since then, the parties have only met twice.

Michael Husbands gave Vale the lead in the 19th minute when he was on hand to divert Chris Birchall’s low cross into the net. The visitors equalized just after the hour mark when Jonathan Walters’ header fell kindly to Lee McEvilly who fired home from twelve yards.

However, Vale responded with the killing blow instantly. Just a minute after conceding, Leon Constantine found himself in the right place at the right time to regain Vale’s lead and ultimately send his side into the second round of the FA Cup.

This victory was the start of a memorable cup run as the Valiants would reach the fifth round before eventually being knocked out by Aston Villa at Villa Park.