When Port Vale hosted Walsall in early December, their 1-0 home defeat that day cost Darren Moore’s men the leadership of League Two to the Saddlers.
Vale now have the chance to return the favour when they head to Bescot for this Saturday’s return fixture.
After taking over on top that day, Mat Sadler’s Saddlers have been there for four months since, at one point building up a 12-point lead. But that has slowly been whittled away – and, if Vale win, Walsall will be knocked off the top.
What is more, if Vale’s local rivals, eighth-placed Crewe Alexandra, can avoid defeat by second-placed Bradford City, then Moore’s Valiants could be back on top.
The one key element different to the game in December is that this time Vale will have the services of their skipper, midfielder Ben Garrity, who was out injured when the first meeting of the two sides took place.
The effect his presence has on Vale is stark. This season, in 26 League One games with him in the side, they have lost just three. In the 14 games without him, they won just twice and slumped from top spot to outside the top six.
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