James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday | OneFootball

James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday | OneFootball

Icon: Football League World

Football League World

·27 May 2022

James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday

Article image:James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday

Port Vale will be looking to secure promotion to the third-tier tomorrow when they face Mansfield Town in the League Two play-off final.

The Valiants booked a trip to Wembley Stadium earlier this month in dramatic fashion by beating Swindon Town on penalties in the semi-final of this competition.


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Set to take on a Mansfield side who eliminated Northampton Town from the play-offs, Vale know that they will need to be at their best on Saturday in order to secure victory.

Having witnessed his side’s display against Swindon at Vale Park, it will be interesting to see whether Darrell Clarke opts to make any changes to his team this weekend.

Here, we have decided to take a look at how Vale could line up against Mansfield…

Article image:James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday

Having deployed the 3-4-1-2 formation in the second leg of Vale’s semi-final clash with Swindon, Clarke may opt to stick with this system on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Aidan Stone has managed to claim 10 clean-sheets in all competitions this season and will be determined to add to this tally tomorrow.

Connor Hall will be accompanied in the heart of defence by Nathan Smith and James Gibbons who has made 25 league appearances during the current campaign.

Mal Benning and David Worrall will be tasked with providing width in this particular formation while Tom Pett will feature alongside Jake Taylor in central-midfield.

Ben Garrity will feature in a more advanced central role behind Kian Harratt and James Wilson.

Quiz: Are these 19 Port Vale facts genuine or fake?

1 of 19

Article image:James Wilson starts: The predicted Port Vale XI to face Mansfield on Saturday

Port Vale beat Northampton Town on the opening weekend of the 2021/22 campaign

Genuine Fake

Harratt will only keep his place in the side if Jamie Proctor is not fit enough to start as the forward missed the second-leg of the club’s semi-final with Swindon due to an issue with his hip.

Having scored two crucial goals against the Robins earlier this month, Wilson will be determined to make a difference for Vale once again tomorrow.

During the current campaign, the forward has managed to find the back of the net on 11 occasions in the fourth-tier whilst he has also provided three assists for his team-mates.

If Wilson is firing on all cylinders at Wembley, he could cause all kinds of issues for Mansfield’s defenders.

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