Schumacher's Port Vale Preview
Port Vale are set to try to act as party poopers as Argyle head to Vale Park on Sunday, knowing a win would ensure the Sky Bet League One title.
To do so, the promoted Pilgrims need to match or better Ipswich Town’s score, as the Tractor Boys head to Fleetwood Town. In theory, Vale have nothing to play for against Argyle, having secured their survival in League One already, but getting one over on a promoted side could be a motivation.
Vale have already upset Argyle once this season, become the first side – and one of only two in all – to win at Home Park in the league.
With interim manager Andy Crosby overseeing the Valiants, Argyle boss Steven Schumacher says that his team have a very obvious motivation of their own.
He said: “We know what is at stake if we go and play well, perform and win the game. We win the league – there is no more motivation needed than that.
“To be able to say that we are champions of League One would be an unbelievable achievement. That’s what we said to the players at the end of the [Burton] game: ‘well done, let’s go and party – but let’s go and win the league to top it off’.
“The job is done as far as promotion goes, but it is not done when it comes to winning the league.
“We want to come back down to Plymouth with a trophy and a winner’s medal. There will be no greater feeling than that.
“Going into the game having already secured automatic promotion probably gives everyone a bit of relief. We’re not going in with the tension of losing everything on the last day. The lads can play with freedom, that’s what we will be encouraging them to do.
“Sheffield Wednesday are on 93 points; Ipswich, with how good they have been, could potentially get to 100 points. They’ve been unbelievable, both teams. If we could come out on top ahead of them, we’ll be remembered forever.
“Cros (Andy Crosby) will be saying to them to go and play with freedom, express yourself and, with nothing to lose, go and stop the party. That will be his message, I’m guessing.
“They’re safe. I think they have been really good this season, Port Vale, for their first season in League One after getting promoted. There was a period where they weren’t playing well, and they sacked their manager, which was a surprise to me, but they are a good team.
“I’ve watched our game back, from when we played them last time. They were good, really well organised. They scored from a set piece, which is one of their main threats, and the second goal came from a counter-attack, which is a huge threat that they have got.”
The away end at Vale Park has long been sold out, with 4,000 of the Green Army set to see the season’s denouement, and Schumacher is desperate to give them what they are coming to see – and what the boss feels they deserve.
“[Vale] are not going to let us create our own party atmosphere. We will have to earn the three points – hopefully we can do that.
“Everyone has celebrated and are delighted that we are going to be in the Championship next season, but there are 4,000 of our fans who deserve to see their team win the league. If we can do our business, concentrate and perform to the levels that we can, then hopefully the party will continue.”
