PORT VALE boss Micky Adams made the national press recently, when he put his entire squad up for sale after their 3-1 defeat at Notts County.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

PORT VALE boss Micky Adams made the national press recently, when he put his entire squad up for sale after their 3-1 defeat at Notts County.

"We were like a woman who has got a big fur coat on but underneath she's got no knickers on," fumed the manager after the loss, which as it had come at Meadow Lane, home of the moneybags League Two side, hadn't been the worst result in the world.

As the transfer window wasn't open either, then no-one could have acted on his bizarre stance, but it appears to have done the trick, as Vale have gone unbeaten six games since the boss lost his rag.

In that sequence, the Valiants won back to back away matches at Shrewbsury Town and Crewe Alexandra, no mean feat at all.

Their home form has seen then take three successive draws, but for Vale fans, who have endured a depressing few years recently, then this campaign, there is a glimmer of hope.

Adams only took over at Vale Park in June after he was sacked by Brighton, just nine months into his second spell at the Withdean.

He went back to his former club to bring in midfielders Tommy Fraser and former Daggers loan man Doug Loft, while he also added Adam Yates and Kris Taylor on free transfers.

There were also loan deals for Lewis Haldane and Damien McCrory, while more recently, Jamie Guy, who had a spell with Daggers last year, has also moved to Vale on a temporary basis.

Former Premier League striker Geoff Horsfield also joined the club on a free, not a bad piece of business for a man, who has been transferred for fees totalling almost �6million in his career.

Its been a decent start by Vale, who spent time in the Championship over recent seasons as they beat both Sheffield clubs in the Carling club, United away and Wednesday at home, before defeat at Scunthorpe.

The league form has also been improving too, as Vale are up to 13th in the table now, just five points off the play-offs.

TEAM NEWS

Daggers: Daggers will be without Abu Ogogo, who is suspended after his sending off at Macclesfield last week, so Scott Doe is expected to deputise.

Midfielder Danny Spiller may be back in the squad too if he can shake off his groin injury, but Mark Nwokeji isn't ready for first team action yet.

Port Vale: The main doubt for Vale is over frontman Marc Richards who has notched eight goals this season, after he missed training with a thigh strain on Thursday.

Vale are likley to be without Doug Loft (calf) and Geoff Horsfield (groin), while Anthony Griffith serves a one-match ban.

Lee Collins, who missed last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Cheltenham, has shrugged off a virus and should return at centre-half.

WE'VE MET BEFORE

Daggers are yet to taste defeat against Port Vale, after the two clubs met twice last season. The points were shared in the opening encounter at Victoria Road as Paul Benson put the hosts in front, before Marc Richards equalised immediately.

In the away game, Jamie Guy netted on 25 minutes as Daggers picked up all three points.

FRIENDLY FACES

Both Doug Loft and Jamie Guy spent time with Daggers on loan last season. Loft made 11 appearances after moving from Brighton and was close to signing for Daggers permanently when he was released until Vale came in, while Guy scored one goal in nine games for John Still's side when he joined from Colchester United.

ONE TO WATCH

Marc Richards - if fit, then the striker remains Vale most likely goal threat with eight goals in all competitions this season.

The former Blackburn trainee isn't prolific in front of goal, but has still managed a decent return of 24 goals in 84 games since moving to Vale Park.

FROM THE DUGOUT

"John Still has them well-organised and is a highly-regarded coach, which is undoubtedly one of the reasons that the club has extended his contract," said Vale boss Micky Adams.

"They have obvious goal threats and have been up there close to the top of the scoring charts for the past couple of seasons.

"We know they will probably throw everything at us, but there will also be pressure on them to get a result as they are the home side."

PREDICTION

A close encounter that Daggers just come out on top with a 1-0 triumph.

Can Daggers emerge victorious against Port Vale? Email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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