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“It is becoming even more important that we start putting this run together” – Wellens demands lift in form ahead of Port Vale visit

By Jude Hall on 2nd March 2021 in Football, Sport

Richie Wellens’ side start the month with the visit of Port Vale to the Peninsula Stadium tonight at 7pm.

Despite beating them comfortably in the EFL Trophy last season, the Ammies are yet to record a victory over the Valiants in League Two and will be hoping for a change in fortunes as they look to end their three match winless streak.

Speaking in his match day programme notes Richie Wellens remains upbeat after recent disappointing results, he said:
“Performances over the last six or seven games have on the whole been very good and neither myself, the staff or the players feel like we should have come out with the amount of points we have, but we are doing everything we can to put that right and get ourselves up to where we want to be.

“Southend again on Saturday was disappointing that we didn’t come back with a win having been the better side, and we had a couple of really good chances that would have won us the game.

“There are 16 games to go now and we are still well in the mix for a promotion place but it is becoming even more important that we start putting this run together.”

The visitors will be desperate for a win themselves, having gone four games without. Darrell Clarke was appointed as Port Vale manager on the 15th February and has notched just one point since taking over.

Wellens will need to remain cautious in his approach however, as although Port Vale sit 11 places lower than Salford in the League Two table at 20th, the Valiants have scored two goals more than City this campaign.

A large chunk of those goals have come from Devante Rodney, a player The Ammies will know all about after he left Salford to join tonight’s opponents in the summer.

✍️ | Welcome to the Vale, @DevanteRodney 🙌

The Manchester-born forward joins us on a three-year contract until June 2023! #PVFC ⚫️⚪️https://t.co/9CdVmESOmi

— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) July 7, 2020

Rodney managed just a single league goal in his two year stint at the Peninsula before his switch to Port Vale. The Ex-Manchester City youth striker already has 10 goals this season and will be keen to add to his tally against his former employers.

A win for Salford City tonight could potentially take them as high as 5th, whilst dropping points may extend the gap between The Ammies and the League Two playoff places.