Sheffield United's fixture at Port Vale has been switched to tonight due to Stoke City's 'massive' appointment with Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow and thus not allowing Vale's final home game of the season to be played on a Saturday.
The Blades head into this game in Stoke-on-Trent following a visit to the Wirral last Monday where they drew 0-0 with Tranmere Rovers and following Peterborough United's victory it put United in a position where they could no longer obtain a Play-Off place. United, the visitors had little effort on goal with Ryan Lowe at the other end perhaps squandering the best opportunity of the match when his effort came off the post and he was unable to turn home the rebound.
United were forced into a change during the game with Harry Maguire (cramp) making way, though he is expected to be a starting contender at Vale tonight. Other than the centre-half only Florent Cuvelier (ligaments) is the clubs only casualty.
Blades boss Nigel Clough may include striker Billy Paynter to face his former club. He started his professional career with the Vale Park club, making his debut on the final day of the season in a 2-0 home defeat to Walsall in May 2001 having signed professional terms in August 2000. He had to wait until September 2002 till he netted his first goal for the club and in the following season would net 14 goals as the Vale narrowly missed out on the play-offs with Hartlepool hosting a better goal difference.
Paynter was dismissed on the opening day of the 2004/05 season, finding the net and picking up two yellows in a 3-2 defeat at Walsall. In October 2005 he played his final game for Vale before joining Hull City initially on loan before completing permanent transfer months later. He left Vale Park having made 130 (+28) appearances and scored 34 goals.
Ten-man Rotherham United grabbed a 1-0 win over Port Vale last Monday to take them into third place thanks a goal from leading marksman Kieran Agard. The game came to life with four chances in the space of two first-half minutes. First Chris Birchall lashed in a left-foot shot which Rotherham keeper Adam Collin blocked with his legs after 19 minutes. Then at the other end a Wes Thomas shot was tipped over by Sam Johnson. From the resulting corner Thomas' header was again tipped over the bar before Craig Morgan cleared Chris Robertson's header off the line from Birchall's corner.
In the 44th minute the home side were reduced to 10 men when Richie Smallwood was shown a straight red card by referee David Coote for a late challenge on Billy Knott. Rotherham made two changes at the break, Rob Millsom replacing Nicky Adams and Agard on for Harris Vuckic. Agard's first touch after just 30 seconds on the field was to head a Thomas cross just wide. But after 78 minutes Vale failed to clear a cross from the left and the lurking Agard finally beat Johnson with a fierce drive.
Vale boss Micky Adams are boosted by the return of former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Chris Lines who served his final of a four match suspension at the New York Stadium last Monday. However they are without top scorer Tom Pope (ankle), Rob Taylor (leg), Jennison Myrie-Williams, Doug Loft Richard Duffy (ankle) and Joe Davis (leg) through injury. Meanwhile they should be boosted by the return of Jennison Myrie-Williams who has recovered from injury.
Loft was injured in a training incident with Daniel Jones (ex-Wednesday) who has since seen his contract terminated by the club and Loft may seek legal action. He told Sky Sports News: "There's a chance (of legal proceedings) but I just want to get my face right and then I will go away and talk with my family and decide about my future. I have never had a problem with Jonesy and he has never had one with me, as far as I know. We went into a tackle and I was getting up off the floor he hit me. I fell backwards and sat on the floor, the gaffer sent him in and I went to hospital for X-rays. He text me on the day and said sorry, that was it."
The Vale are likely to field Chris Robertson to face his former club. He was on the books at Bramall Lane between July 2005 and March 2007 where he failed to break into the first team. Chester City handed him is Football League debut in a 5-0 drumming at Carlisle United whilst on a month’s loan in January 2006. In March 2007 he made a free transfer to Torquay United, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Injured midfielder Florent Cuvelier is currently 'officially' a Port Vale player after joining on loan from Sheffield United. However the Belgian soon returned to Bramall Lane after lasting 36 minutes on his debut against Oldham Athletic on 18 January where he was unfortunately injured and sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Blades-Mad would like to thank Vale supporter Kev Small for his help with the opposition team news.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Port Vale 0 Sheffield United 1