Festive Fixture Round Up

It's been a tough week in Burslem over the festive period. Having not played on home soil in the League since the 20th November Vale saw consecutive games against Barnet and Lincoln called off due to the cold spell.

They finally got back into action away at Gillingham on the 28th December alhtough they probably wished that had been called off as well as they went down 3-0 in Kent. Rumours were rife that boss Micky Adams was favourite for the vacant job at Sheffield United and Vale fans fears were confirmed 24 hours later when he was announced as the new boss.

It wasn't a great opening to 2011 for caretaker bosses Mark Grew and Geoff Horsefield as they took charge of a side that went down 5-0 away at Rotherham. Add to that the sending off of goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson.

But they rounded it off with a Bank Holiday 2-1 win over Burton where once again they were involved in a sending off but this time it was the turn of striker Marc Richards to recieve his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

There was a sense of relief around Vale Park as fans began to wonder whether without the influence of Adams that the team would be able to maintain their push for promotion but this seemed to settle any nerves.

The Valiants take a break from League action this weekend as they take on Burnley in the 3rd rond of the FA Cup. They could have key players missing as they wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against Stuart Tomlinson's red card on New Year's Day. Marc Richards will be suspended and could also use this time to recovery from a thigh injury sustained in the game and ended in a trip to the hospital as a precautionary measure.