“So, what is this all down to? Is it just Clarke or is there more to it than that? Pound for pound Clarke has one of the best records of any manager in the Football League over the last eight seasons. Three promotions in his last six full seasons is nothing to be overlooked. “It seems the one thing at the moment that plays into our hands is that the big boys in the Premier League and the Championship seem intent on big names with great playing CVs but with very little management experience. For instance Vincent Kompany and Michael Carrick.

'Why can't we' - Port Vale fans talk top six, Bristol Rovers and Darrell Clarke Is it just Clarke or is there more to it than that? Pound for pound Clarke

has one of the best records of any manager in the Football

“Could we even do a “Wycombe”and break into that top six? Whilst Plymouth, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday have broken clear of the pack, and there’s admittedly a few big clubs with more resources than us amongst the contenders, it’s certainly possible and with the transfer window re- opening in the New Year, who knows? I’ve no doubt Gareth Ainsworth’s 10th placed Wycombe are aiming to be there yet again, so why can’t we? ” Scott Lingard: “What a great win that was last week at top of the table Plymouth.

“So, what does he do that is so different? He has started more than 28 different players this season, rarely starting the same team week in week out. The talk amongst the fans may be that he has no idea who his best eleven is, but maybe that is his secret, the not knowing. Or, maybe it’s the fact he takes it one game at a time, and plays the best team to win the next match, and not looking any further than that.

Huboo Match Preview: Exeter Chiefs (A - R13) Josh Bayliss will live that dream this weekend for Bath Rugby as he will

hit a century of appearances in Blue, Black and

“Clarke can only take this so far in throwing down the gauntlet for players, but when you can put a group together, a squad that is willing to call each other out and challenge each other to be better, then the standard automatically improves. “When a club has that, who knows how far it can take them. ” Read Next: Port Vale player ratings and verdict as they stun leaders Plymouth Beaten Plymouth boss praises Port Vale as they end home record James Wilson talks Port Vale belief, goals and win at Plymouth Port Vale agree new date for Derby County game Port Vale youngsters beat Foley Meir in Staffordshire Senior CupStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.

Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs TV guide, team news and odds If you are not going to watch the game or be inside the stadium, DevonLive

and BristolLive will be live blogging the match bringing you all

“I have to say that I wasn’t particularly surprised we put an end to Plymouth’s nine game winning home streak, just what I’d call “typical Vale “ really. Typical to win against teams riding high on the crest of a wave but just as typical to get beaten by a struggler on a desperate losing run. “I think those of us who’ve followed this club for a very long time have seen it so often over the years that we hardly raise an eyebrow when it happens. Nevertheless, from all accounts it was a fully deserved three points to the Valiants. “I think most of our fans will acknowledge that we’re ticking along nicely at the moment clocking up some good results and probably exceeding expectations as we currently stand ninth the league. Despite having those blips on our travels to Exeter, Peterborough and Oxford we’re just a draw away from reaching that thirty point mark as we head into the festive programme and reach the halfway point which puts us in a decent position for the second half of the season.

Bristol Rovers vs Exeter City live stream: How to watch Bristol Rovers and Exeter City are set to clash at the Memorial Stadium

this Thursday evening with the two sides separated by three points

West Brom vs Rotherham United TV channel, live stream and how to watch Championship match Having replaced popular and long-serving boss Paul Warne in early October,

former Exeter chief Matt Taylor has seen his side win just one

Harlequins are reigning champions, but have faced some tough competition this season. They go into the latest round of fixtures third in the table, on 60 points, while Exeter Chiefs are second on 61 points. London rivals Saracens are currently top of the table on 72 points. All three of them, plus Bristol Bears, have qualified for the play-offs. Saracens have guaranteed home advantage in the semi-finals, with second spot taking the other home game. Those games are played on 22 May, before the final on 3 June.

No small achievement either, to be the first team to take points from them as well deserves all the credit that has been given over the last week. “I’ve been reading on the forums this week about what a shrewd move it was to sign Darrell Clarke on a five-year contract because it surely cannot be long before a bigger club comes knocking for him. “Be under no illusion, this is the last thing I want to happen with the turn around since he has been manager. No true Vale fan would have ever believed a club that was on the verge of going out of the Football League under the Smurthwaite regime, could be a club challenging at the top half of League One.

“He also has been very shrewd in his use of substitutions. Vale’s stats show that, over this season, the probable result we would have been on course for ended up better after the first alteration. This shows trust in his squad and that he is fully aware a game may well not pan out as was first planned, rather than trying to persist with a plan that is not working. “Clarke's methods may not be to everybody's liking, and are almost unique in football, but the results are in no doubt that he is doing something right. His standards are clearly high, expectations of his players that many would think are far too high for this level. But he has built a squad of players that have bought into his philosophy and are willing to do whatever he asks, without question.

Everton 1-2 Wolves, Leicester 0-3 Newcastle and more The French defender pounced in the final minute as Wolves secured a The

games just keep on coming, and Rob Smyth is on Aston Villa

No relegation will produce more shock results says Exeter Chiefs' Rob Baxter Exeter Chiefs' director of rugby Rob Baxter predicts the Gallagher with

London Irish, Newcastle and Bristol all prevailing in

Sheffield Wednesday vs Port Vale Prediction, Head-To-Head Bristol Rovers vs Exeter City Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live… Dhruv Dec 29,

2022. Lee Gregory was forced off in the Fleetwood contest with

How can I watch Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears in the Women's Premier 15s? All times are BST and subject to changeBBC iPlayerExeter Chiefs host Bristol Bears in the latest match of BBC’s live coverage of the Women’s Premier 15s. Coverage will start at 13:50 and be available on BBC Red Button, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. It will also be available to view on iPlayer on demand for 30 days.

Port Vale fans talk top six, Bristol Rovers and Darrell ClarkePort Vale return to action this weekend when they are away to Bristol Rovers. Pondering a potential challenge for the play-offs and Darrell Clarke’s record is our fans’ panel of Ian Woodward, from Congleton, and Scott Lingard, from Sneyd Green. WHAT’S YOUR PREDICTION AND WHY? Ian Woodward: “Vale should be full of confidence following their victory at Plymouth, whilst I note Rovers are also in decent form, having lost just once in their last ten league outings. “Whether folks love or loathe their manager, Joey Barton, Rovers are a decent footballing side and they certainly impressed me when they took the three points on their visit to Vale Park back in April.

Saturday, 14 May13:50-16:00 - Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears on BBC iPlayer, Red Button & BBC Sport website and app. Coverage of the two semi-finals will be available on 22 May, with the final also streamed live on 3 June. How to get into rugby unionBBC SportCamaraderie and teamwork are vital skills in most team sports, but none to the same extent as in rugby union. From schoolyard games of touch to lining up for your country in the Six Nations, rugby union is a sport of skill, bravery and strength.

Catch up: Women's Premier 15s - Exeter Chiefs v Bristol BearsGot a TV Licence? You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law. Find out moreLive ReportingWhat is the Rugby Union Premier 15s? Premier 15s, which is run by the Rugby Football Union, is the top tier of the women’s game in England. It is a fairly new league, founded in 2016, and is made up of 10 teams from the Women’s Premiership, including Sale Sharks, Wasps and Exeter Chiefs.

FAMILY DAY MATCH PACK: Wanderers v Exeter City If you can't make it to the stadium, supporters can still watch a live

stream of the game on iFollow BWFC with a £10 video match

What Boxing Day rugby is on today? Kick-off times and TV channels for Welsh derbies and more URC games will be broadcast live across a mix of Premier Sports (Viaplay

... Harlequins v Bristol Bears Women, 1.30pm, BT Sport