TONIGHT (Tuesday) sees the first evening league match at ‘The Rec’ since The Shots returned to the Football League.

Port Vale make the long trip south from The Potteries on the back of vastly improved form since Dean Glover recently took over as manager from the sacked Lee Sinnott.

Although Vale lost 3-1 at home to Exeter City a week ago, they have still won three of their last four games.
A last-minute victory at home to Morecambe on Saturday saw them move above Aldershot as they look to mount a promotion campaign after last season’s relegation from League One.

Given Aldershot’s dire away form — six league defeats in a row — it is their unbeaten home record that has them in a healthy mid-table position, so it is vitally important that they do not start stuttering at The Rec. It is now six league games since a win, after drawing their last two home games.

For Vale, while an away win at Chester was perhaps not so surprising, a recent 2-1 victory at Shrewsbury Town was a very impressive result. They have picked up ten of their 16 points on the road and, given Aldershot’s propensity to let in late goals, it is a worry that Vale have scored late goals in each of their last four games.

Glover, who joined Vale as a player just a couple of weeks before Vale and 'Aldershot' last met (a 2-2 draw at The Rec in the old Division Three, in March 1989) has tended to field a 4-5-1 formation away from home, with captain Marc Richards, their leading scorer, up front on his own.

But, with Luke Rodgers - well known to Aldershot fans from his days at Shrewsbury Town - scoring one and setting up the winner for Richards on Saturday against Morecambe, Glover may stick to the 4-4-2 he prefers at home and give Rodgers a start. Still, 4-5-1 has served Glover well up until now.

Richards has scored six League Two goals this season. The much-travelled 26-year-old nearly moved to Cheltenham in the summer but turned down the move after the two clubs looked to have agreed a £100,000 fee.

Vale are a young team, especially in defence, where Lee Collins, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, has impressed.

While their form is improving, however, they have not kept a clean sheet all season; Aldershot have not kept one since the opening day, at Accrington Stanley. So, football being football, tonight is all set up for a 0-0 draw, especially as Vale have not been involved in a draw for more than two months. Surely, however, 0-0 is a very unlikely outcome - but one Nikki Bull and Vale 'keeper Joe Anyon might appreciate.

For The Shots, Marvin Morgan may well be rewarded with a start after coming on and scoring on Saturday at Rochdale, although Danny Hylton has done little wrong up front since winning a starting place. John Grant and Rhys Day should keep their places after doing well on their recalls at Rochdale. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

GARY Waddock got his wish of a home tie in Sunday’s FA Cup 1st Round draw — but League Two Rotherham United will be tough opponents in what is a pretty uninspiring draw for both sides’ fans.

The match will be played at The Rec on Saturday November 8, kicking off at 3pm.