Stat Attack: Notts County vs. Port Vale

Notts County have met Port Vale a grand total of 93 times over the years, with the first two fixtures coming within a week of each other back in February 1921. The Magpies won the first game 2-1, but lost 1-0 at Meadow Lane.

Notts have the upper edge having won 39 games, lost 34, and drawn 20 against the Valiants, with the highest scoring matches coming in February 1927 (a 6-2 defeat) and April 1935 (a 5-3 defeat).

Last time these two played, in August last year at Vale Park, the Magpies won 2-0.

Port Vale is one of the few English league clubs not to be named after a geographical location.

The name Port Vale exists on maps pre–dating the formation of the club, which probably occurred in 1879, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry.

The club itself is actually based in Burslem, one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

Port Vale have never been in the top tier of English football, and the last time they were in the second tier was back in 1999-2000.

In terms of silverware, the Valiants have won the Staffordshire Senior Cup twice, in 1920 and 2001, whilst being runners-up in 1900 and 2010, as well as several other regional cups like the Birmingham Senior Cup, one of the oldest county football competitions still active.

The club, despite being fairly small, enjoys the support of some world-famous celebrities. Robbie Williams is a huge fan, to the point that he held £240,000 worth of shares in the club and has a restaurant at Vale Park named after him.

For the videogame FIFA 2000, he provided an original theme song called It's Only Us, on the condition that Port Vale should be included in the game, which they were, located in the Rest of World section!

Also, in 2005, Williams founded Los Angeles Vale F.C., a Super Metro League team in the United States, named after Port Vale and based at his Los Angeles home.

Darts star Phil “The Power” Taylor is also a big fan, while Blue (that Noughties boy-band) singer Simon Webbe was part of their youth setup until a ligament injury hampered any prospect of a career in football.

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On-loan Brighton man Paddy McCourt may make his Notts County debut when Port Vale visit Meadow Lane. The Northern Ireland international could get a chance on the wing on Saturday.

The returning Jamal Campbell-Ryce, back on loan at County from Sheffield United, Haydn Hollis, Will Hayhurst, Balint Bajner and Billy Daniels are also options for Shaun Derry,

Meanwhile, Ronan Murray will probably remain on the sidelines through injury.

Shaun Harrad this week joined Cheltenham on loan while fellow striker Jimmy Spencer remains a long-term absentee after suffering a knee injury during pre-season.

Notts are chasing only their second double of the season - the only team they have beaten home and away this season so far has been Vale's local rivals Crewe.

Colin Daniel's return from injury means Vale travel with a fully-fit squad.

Daniel is back in contention after three weeks out with an ankle problem but a place on the bench is probably the best the forward can hope for with Valiants boss Rob Page likely to name an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in a row following back-to-back wins.

However, there is also plenty of competition to be named among the substitutes after Achille Campion, Greg Luer and Richard Duffy all missed out on the matchday squad last weekend.