There hasn't been many league meetings between the Blades and Vale in recent years, in fact our 2-1 victory over the Stoke-on-Trent in October 2013 club was our first professional meeting for 13 years. Our first ever meeting was in 1892/93 season during the Blades first ever Football League season which (following a play-off victory) ended in promotion for Sheffield United. They completed the double over then Burslem Port Vale, winning 10-0 away from home and 4-0 later in the season at Bramall Lane.
The ten-nil victory inflicted is not only a club record away league victory but a Football League Record also. Due to the S2 side winning promotion that the two teams didn't meet in the league until 1934 when United were relegated into Division Two. They had previously met during the 1897/98 season in the FA Cup with Vale winning a 2-1 replay following a 1-1 draw at the Lane as United went onto win the Football League that season.
In August 1934 Vale beat United 2-0 at home to record their first league victory over the Blades but had to wait until November 1999 until they claimed a positive result at Bramall Lane for the first time. In 1936 Vale were relegated from the Second Division whilst United narrowly missed out on promotion and were beaten finalists in the FA Cup - losing 1-0 to the Arsenal and would have to wait a further 21 years until they met again in the league and United again notched up some high scores with a 4-2 victory at the Lane and 6-0 away from home as Vale were again relegated.
United showed their dominance again when they met next time around in the old Fourth Division during the 1981/82 season winning 2-0 and 2-1 respectively but it wasn't until the Blades fell from grace in 1994 when they were relegated from the Premier League that this fixture between United and Port Vale became an annual occurrence. Even then it ran for six years when Vale was relegated to third tier in football in 2000. On 23 November 1999 Vale recorded their biggest win over United, a 3-1 victory in a game which turned out to be Adrian Heath's last as Blades boss before he was dismissed.
From here we follow the matches between the two clubs with brief reports...
13 August 2008 - Sheffield United 3 Port Vale 1
An eye-catching Stephen Quinn strike eased Sheffield United safely past League Two side Port Vale in a tricky Carling Cup encounter at Bramall Lane. The Championship side were made to work hard by Vale after substitute Luke Rodgers had cancelled out Lee Hendrie's opener. Quinn's stunning goal tipped the scales with Danny Webber adding a third from the penalty spot with minutes to go. The Championship side went close in the opening minutes when new £2million signing Darius Henderson headed a David Cotterill corner narrowly wide.
The breakthrough almost came in the 14th minute when full-back Derek Geary pumped in a low cross. Ross Davidson's clearance fell nicely for Quinn but his fierce strike deflected round the post. The Sheffield side swept ahead in the 40th minute when Cotterill found Matt Spring in space. He unselfishly laid the ball back to Hendrie, who curled his right-foot strike from 16 yards beyond Joe Anyon into the far corner. Vale were level seven minutes after the re-start when Louis Dodds' cross from the right was coolly tucked beyond Ian Bennett's reach by Rodgers at the near post.
Quinn added the second in the 71st minute as Henderson's header was cleared straight to the little midfielder, who drilled the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards. Marc Richards almost took the game into extra time in the dying minutes with a stinging drive from 22 yards which was tipped over the top by Bennett . But Webber added a third from the penalty spot a minute from time after defender Sam Stockley had brought down Cotterill.
11 August 2009 - Sheffield United 1 Port Vale 2 - League Cup
Championship side Sheffield United crashed out of the Carling Cup as Marc Richards grabbed two goals - with the help of Blades keeper Ian Bennett. It was a sweet victory for Vale boss Micky Adams, a boyhood fan of the Bramall Lane side. United boss Kevin Blackwell was hampered by a big selection headache in the run up to the re-run of last season's first round clash that saw the home side cruise through to the next round. David Cotterill, Ched Evans and Kyle Walker were away on international duty, six players were absent injured or suspended and on-loan Blackburn keeper Mark Bunn was barred from becoming cup-tied by Rovers.
Vale were beaten 3-1 by United last season but there was to be no repeat. The visitors went ahead after 20 minutes when Rob Taylor's cross from the left was headed by Loft and Richards pounced with a close range effort to beat Bennet. But the home side were level 13 minutes later when Billy Sharp produced a clever turn to beat the keeper with an accurate shot. Vale keeper Martin and his able defence managed to keep United at bay as they looked certain to score in the latter stages of the first half.
Sharp went close again early in the second half but when Vale broke out from the back the earned a free kick outside the area. This time Richards dipped the shot over the United wall and keeper Bennett looked to have both hands on the ball. But somehow he fumbled and it dropped over the line to United's horror. Shellshocked United were on the back foot and Richards came close to grabbing a hat trick in the 76th minute but his header from a corner was held by Bennett.
1 December 2012 - Sheffield United 2 Port Vale 1 - FA Cup Rd 2
Shaun Miller scored two dramatic last-gasp goals to give Sheffield United a memorable 2-1 win over Port Vale and send the hosts into the third round of the FA Cup. Vale had led until the 90th minute thanks to Tom Pope's 21st goal of the season but visiting boss Micky Adams was to endure a miserable return to Bramall Lane, 18 months after his sacking. Vale's Clayton McDonald was fortunate not to turn the ball into his own net early on when he diverted Chris Porter's low cross straight at goalkeeper Chris Neal.
The dangerous Pope put Ben Williamson through on goal but George Long did well to block with his legs. Yet Pope made no mistake himself as he put the visitors in front after 33 minutes, firing low past Long after receiving the ball from Jennison Myrie-Williams. The hosts started brightly after the break and only a superb save from Neal, down low to his left, prevented Porter's header from finding the net.
Miller wasted a golden opportunity, missing the target from close range with a downward header from Nick Blackman's cross. But he atoned with a 90th-minute equaliser after getting on to the end of a deep ball from Ryan Flynn, before then pouncing for the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Flynn's shot had been parried.
19 October 2013 - Sheffield United 2 Port Vale 1
Sheffield United secured their first win since the opening weekend of the season as Michael Doyle's second-half goal saw the Blades edge past Port Vale 2-1 at Bramall Lane. Vale, who played the majority of the match with 10 men after Daniel Jones' 20th-minute red card, had threatened to spoil the party when Adam Yates' fluked equaliser cancelled out Neill Collins' opener for the hosts. The Valiants endured a nightmare start as they fell a goal behind and had Jones dismissed for a second bookable offence during the opening exchanges of the game.
Collins headed United in front from Stephen McGinn's corner before Jones' scything challenge on Ryan Flynn brought a red card for the defender. Tempers continued to fray as Vale manager Micky Adams, a former Blade returning to Bramall Lane, and Jennison Myrie-Williams were involved in a furious touchline row when the forward was substituted during the ensuing reshuffle. Lyle Taylor, having earlier been inches away from hooking home a close-range effort, drew a superb reaction save from Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal before seeing another impudent flick deflected wide.
But, on the stroke of half-time, the visitors levelled in fortuitous circumstances when Yates' cross crept in at the far post. Adams' side emerged as a far more dangeous proposition following the interval, despite seeing both Flynn and the impressive Taylor go close at the other end of the pitch. United striker Shaun Miller made his long-awaited return from injury midway through the second period. Tony McMahon and Matt Hill both flashed shots wide as the hosts looked to regain the lead but it was Doyle, powering the ball beyond Neal's outstretched arm, who obliged after Flynn and McMahon had exchanged passes.
Results
Against Burslem Port Vale...
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1890 | ||||
| Sheffield United v Burslem Port Vale | D | 1-1 | Midland League | |
| 13 Apr 1891 | Burslem Port Vale v Sheffield United | L | 3-1 | Midland League |
| 10 Dec 1892 | Burslem Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 0-10 | League Division Two |
| 17 Dec 1892 | Sheffield United v Burslem Port Vale | W | 4-0 | League Division Two |
| 30 Jan 1898 | Sheffield United v Burslem Port Vale | D | 1-1 | FA Cup |
| 02 Feb 1898 | Burslem Port Vale v Sheffield United | L | 2-1 | FA Cup |
Against Port Vale...
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1934 | ||||
| Port Vale v Sheffield United | L | 2-0 | League Division Two | |
| 29 Dec 1934 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 3-0 | League Division Two |
| 26 Oct 1935 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 4-0 | League Division Two |
| 11 Apr 1936 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 25 Aug 1956 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 4-2 | League Division Two |
| 25 Mar 1957 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 0-6 | League Division Two |
| 13 Mar 1963 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 1-2 | FA Cup |
| 10 Oct 1981 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 0-2 | League Division Four |
| 27 Feb 1982 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 2-1 | League Division Four |
| 27 Dec 1983 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | L | 2-0 | League Division Three |
| 24 Apr 1984 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 3-1 | League Division Three |
| 24 Oct 1988 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | D | 3-3 | League Division Three |
| 28 Feb 1989 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | D | 0-0 | League Division Three |
| 16 Dec 1989 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | D | 1-1 | League Division Two |
| 21 Apr 1990 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 2-1 | League Division Two |
| 24 Sep 1994 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 |
| 04 Mar 1995 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 |
| 11 Nov 1995 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 |
| 04 May 1996 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 |
| 16 Nov 1996 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 |
| 04 Mar 1997 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 |
| 22 Nov 1997 | Port Vale v Sheffield United | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 |
| 28 Mar 1998 | Sheffield United v Port Vale | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 |
| 31 Oct 1998 | P |