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Port Vale
League One | Gameweek 41
Mar 29, 2024 at 3pm UK
Vale Park
Bristol Rovers

Port Vale
2 - 0
Bristol Rovers

Garrity (42'), Dipepa (52')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Hoole (34'), Wilson (58')

Preview: Port Vale vs. Bristol Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's League One clash between Port Vale and Bristol Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Port Vale will attempt to claim a second straight win when they welcome Bristol Rovers to Vale Park for Friday's League One clash.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to return to winning ways after taking just one point from their last three matches.


Match preview

Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore before the match on February 7, 2023© Reuters

Port Vale renewed their survival hopes with a narrow 1-0 victory in last Saturday's away meeting with relegation rivals Burton Albion.

After going 14 games without a win, Port Vale claimed their first victory of 2024 thanks to Ryan Loft's 84th-minute winner.

The crucial result moved the Valiants to within three points of safety with eight games left to go in the League One season.

Buoyed from their recent success on the road, Port Vale will now return to Vale Park, where they will look to end an eight-game winless run by recording their first home victory since the end of December.

Although the Valiants have lost three of their last four head-to-head meetings, they can draw inspiration from the fact that they clinched a 2-0 win in last season's home game against Bristol Rovers.

Bristol Rovers' Luke Mccormick celebrates scoring their first goal with Luke Thomas on January 17, 2024© Reuters

In contrast to their relegation-threatened hosts, Bristol Rovers are set to extend their stay in League One into a third consecutive campaign.

Having collected 50 points from 38 matches, the Gas are sitting in 14th place and three points away from matching last season's tally.

While they may occupy a comfortable mid-table position, Matt Taylor's side will be keen to halt their three-game winless run, which began with a heavy 3-0 defeat to Derby County.

The Gas went on to play out a goalless draw with Fleetwood Town, before they slumped to a demoralising 5-0 loss against Lincoln City in their most recent outing.

After having two weeks to reflect upon that result, Bristol Rovers will look to use that disappointment as motivation for Friday's away trip, where they will have the chance to complete a league double over Port Vale after running out 3-0 winners in October's reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

Bristol Rovers League One form:


Team News

Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor looks dejected after the match on January 17, 2024© Reuters

Port Vale are still expected to be without the services of Uche Ikpeazu and Dan Gore due to their respective injury issues.

Tom Sang is in contention for a starting berth after he came off the bench to play over half-an-hour in the recent win over Burton.

Buoyed from scoring three goals in two games for England Under-17s, forward Baylee Dipepa is set to return to the matchday squad for Friday's home fixture.

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, are unable to call upon the injured trio of Jordan Rossiter, Jack Hunt and Luke McCormick.

James Wilson is available following a three-match suspension, and the defender is likely to start in central defence alongside Elkan Baggott.

Chris Martin will continue to lead the line for the visitors, having scored 15 goals in 28 league appearances this season.


Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Smith, Debrah, Iacovitti; Sang, Garrity, Ojo, Plant; Chislett; Wilson, Loft

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Hoole, Wilson, Baggott, Gordon; Finley, Conteh; Vale, Evans, Sinclair; Martin


SM words green background

We say: Port Vale 2-1 Bristol Rovers

Port Vale will have a renewed sense of belief following their narrow win over Burton, and with Bristol Rovers experiencing a dip in form, Friday's fixture represents the perfect opportunity for the hosts to boost their survival hopes with three more precious points.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Port Vale vs Bristol Rovers

Port Vale
55.0%
Draw
15.0%
Bristol Rovers
30.0%
20
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth462813578413797
2Derby CountyDerby462881078374192
3Bolton WanderersBolton462512986513587
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough462591289612884
5Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4622111379562377
6Barnsley4621131282641876
7Lincoln CityLincoln4620141265402574
8Blackpool4621101565481773
9Stevenage4619141357461171
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe461714156055565
11Leyton Orient461811175355-265
12Wigan AthleticWigan462010166356762
13Exeter CityExeter461710194661-1561
14Northampton TownNorthampton46179205766-960
15Bristol Rovers46169215268-1657
16Charlton AthleticCharlton461120156465-153
17Reading461611196870-253
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge461212223961-2248
19Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury46139243567-3248
20Burton Albion461210243967-2846
21Cheltenham TownCheltenham46128264165-2444
RFleetwood TownFleetwood461013234972-2343
RPort Vale461011254174-3341
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4679304181-4030


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