Port Vale currently find themselves sat inside the League One relegation zone after what can only be described as a torrid run of form.
2024 has not been kind to the Valiants and they have in fact scored the lowest amount of points since the turn of the New Year. In their nine games this calendar year, they’ve picked up just two points and have lost to each of the three other teams in the relegation zone.
Due to that run of form, the Stoke-on-Trent based side have slipped down to 22nd in the third tier table. Although they have played the joint-lowest amount of games in the league this season and have multiple games in hand on the teams just above the relegation zone, those teams do crucially already have the points on the board.
It is by no means a given that in their games in hand they, pick up any sort of points, and looking at recent form you’d highly doubt they’d make the most of those opportunities. Having lost their last three on the bounce as well as not scoring in either of their last two, times do look well and truly bleak on the pitch at the minute.
This poor run of form that the club find themselves in has continued despite bringing in a new as well as established manager into the building. That is obviously Darren Moore, who’s time with Sheffield Wednesday last season in the third tier was rather magnificent, taking them into the Championship via the Play-Offs.
Although Moore’s time with Huddersfield afterwards may have not gone to plan, with the Jamaican relieved of his duties in late-January, few would’ve expected him to join a team in a relegation battle like the one that Port Vale currently find themselves in.
Having signed a five and a half year deal with the club, Moore obviously has a long-term plan for the future, however he has to improve performances soon or else his side look destined to be playing in the fourth tier next season.
Since taking over from Andy Crosby, Moore is yet to win a game and has in fact lost all three of his games in charge. The first win and even that first point is still eluding the former Sheffield Wednesday man and if not able to get some points on the board soon, then relegation could well be on the horizon.
Perhaps the best opportunity to get a win on the board comes on Tuesday night as they welcome Fleetwood Town to Vale Park. Fleetwood are one of the two sides that sit below the Valiants in the table and it could be perceived as a six-pointer at the bottom at this stage.
A loss for the home side will be severely detrimental as they could lose touch with the teams above them and in turn also let Fleetwood back into the relegation fight. At the time of writing, Charlie Adam’s side sit four points behind Vale and have played two more games, yet have looked the better of the two in recent weeks. Having drawn with Exeter at the weekend, they’ll come into this with some momentum which does aid their chances.
For Darren Moore to give the club the best chance of survival, it is paramount that they pick up three points on Tuesday but that is far easier said than done.
With over a quarter of the season still left for the Valiants they do still have the time to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and plenty more twists can be expected in the relegation scrap.
However they have hardly looked as if they’re a side who deserve to stay in the league this season based on recent form and could well be applying their trade in the fourth tier next year if results do not pick up.
As for Moore’s future if they do go down? Who knows. Given he has signed such a long contract both the manager and the club must believe it is the right fit, but based on recent performances that seems like an unlikely statement.
If they can beat Fleetwood on Tuesday night, then neutrals will look at them in a very different manner. A loss on the other hand will see the likelihood of relegation dramatically increase. It would be too soon to say that they would definitely go down, but the struggles are obvious at the minute and they only seem to be going in one direction.
Senior Editor
