Adver Sport get the lowdown on Swindon Town’s next opponents in League Two – Port Vale

MANAGER: Neil Aspin

TOP SCORER: Tom Pope (8)

FORM GUIDE: WDLWL

LAST MATCH: 1-0 Loss v Mansfield (A) – Nov 17

LAST TOWN MATCH: 3-2 Swindon win – Feb 2018

MATCH ODDS: Town 15/8, Vale 6/4, Draw 9/4

LIKELY LINE-UP

ONE TO WATCH: Tom Pope

PORT Vale’s top goalscorer Tom Pope’s eyes would’ve lit up last week upon hearing news that Swindon Town boss Richie Wellens lost his first game in charge 4-0 against Carlisle United.

A woeful second-half performance saw Swindon concede three preventable goals – even Jamie Devitt’s free-kick should’ve been avoided following a sloppy handball by Jermaine McGlashan.

With almost three-quarters of his shots hitting the target, Pope’s record will be of concern to Wellens, particularly given that goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux managed to keep just one of Carlisle’s shots on target out last week.

With eight goals to his name already this season, Pope could pile further misery onto Town.

KEY BATTLE: Elijah Adebayo v Mitchell Clark

TIME is very much ticking for Swindon Town’s summer loan signing Elijah Adebayo.

The 20-year-old forward has been in woeful form of late, failing to score since netting against Yeovil Town in late September.

It’s possible that Town boss Richie Wellens will pick the experienced Marc Richards over Adebayo against Port Vale this weekend – but with Richards also out of form and returning from injury, Town face a minor crisis up front.

Standing in Adebayo’s way will be Vale’s loan signing Mitchell Clark, who joined the Valiants in the summer from Aston Villa.

Two youngsters doing battle, it’s set up to be one of the areas.