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Port Vale
League One | Gameweek 30
Jan 27, 2024 at 3pm UK
Vale Park
Portsmouth

Port Vale
0 - 1
Portsmouth


Chislett (16'), Iacovitti (40'), Smith (45+4'), Massey (57')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Bishop (88' pen.)
Lane (26'), Lowery (29')

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

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

Portsmouth will attempt to claim a second straight victory when they travel to Vale Park for Saturday's clash with Port Vale.

The hosts are currently sitting in 18th place, while the visitors are one point clear at the top of the League One table.


Match preview

Port Vale manager Andrew Crosby reacts on December 19, 2023© Reuters

Port Vale are preparing to play their first meaningful game since playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Charlton on January 6.

The Valiants saw their away clash with Reading abandoned due to fan protests, before last Saturday's home meeting with Wycombe Wanderers was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Although they have at least two games in hand on the teams around them, Port Vale are currently battling for their League One survival with just four points separating them from the relegation zone.

While they are bracing themselves for a tough test, Andy Crosby's side can take confidence from the fact that they have lost just one of their last four home league games (W2, D1).

Having scored two goals in each of those four home matches, Port Vale will hope that they have the firepower required to trouble a Portsmouth side that boast the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, bounced back from consecutive defeats to claim a narrow away win over Fleetwood Town last weekend.

Abu Kamara's 25th-minute strike proved enough to condemn the relegation-threatened side to a 1-0 defeat and end Pompey's three-game winless away run.

While Portsmouth remain top of the table, they are only two points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers, who have two games in hand over the league leaders.

Pompey will fancy their chances of adding to their points tally on Saturday, having lost just two of their 14 away league games this season.

They can also take confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last three meetings with Port Vale (D1), including a 2-0 win in October's reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

Portsmouth League One form:


Team News

Port Vale are still unable to call upon James Plant, Mitch Clark, Ben Garrity and Funso Ojo, while Jesse Debrah is a doubt due to a hamstring issue.

Dan Jones, who has spent the majority of the season on the sidelines, is now back in full training and closing in on a return to the matchday squad.

After arriving on loan from Manchester United, Dan Gore could come into the side to make his Port Vale debut in Saturday's contest.

As for the league leaders, they remain without the injured quartet of Regan Poole, Zach Swanson, Alex Robertson and Tino Anjorin, while Kusini Yengi is away on international duty with Australia.

Mousinho is hopeful that Joe Morrell will shake off a knock in time for the weekend, but the fixture may come too soon for Joe Rafferty, who is struggling with a neck problem.

Myles Peart-Harris could be brought into the starting lineup to make his debut after joining on loan from Brentford until the end of the season.


Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Smith, Lowe, Iacovitti; Massey, Gore, Weir, Grant; Wilson, Chislett, Ikpeazu

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Norris; Shaughnessy, Raggett, Towler; Devlin, Pack, Morrell, Lowery; Kamara, Peart-Harris, Bishop


SM words green background

We say: Port Vale 1-2 Portsmouth

After Portsmouth got their promotion bid back on track last weekend, we think that they will record a second straight victory this weekend, especially as they have won two of their last three matches against Port Vale.



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




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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Port Vale vs Portsmouth

Port Vale
13.3%
Draw
33.3%
Portsmouth
53.3%
15
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Manchester United's Dan Gore in action on September 26, 2023
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall20134337191843
2Port Vale2110742619737
3Doncaster RoversDoncaster2110653124736
4Crewe AlexandraCrewe209832416835
5Chesterfield2197536231334
6AFC Wimbledon20103731171433
7Notts County208752821731
8Grimsby Town21101102833-531
9MK Dons199373326730
10Gillingham209382218430
11Salford City208662219330
12Bradford CityBradford207762422228
13Bromley206952523227
14Cheltenham TownCheltenham217682930-127
15BarrowBarrow207582018226
16Newport CountyNewport207582731-426
17Colchester UnitedColchester2041152322123
18Fleetwood TownFleetwood195862425-123
19Tranmere RoversTranmere205691529-1421
20Harrogate TownHarrogate2163121732-1521
21Swindon TownSwindon2147102635-919
22Accrington StanleyAccrington204792636-1019
23Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2036111532-1715
24Morecambe2135131938-1914


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