Azerbaijan
Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia

Port Valevs.Exeter

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 April 2024, 23:34
Exeter City will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches when they travel to Vale Park for Saturday's clash with Port Vale.

Meanwhile, the relegation-threatened hosts will be desperate to end their three-game winless run as they look to retain their League One status.

Match preview

After winning their final two games in March, Port Vale have only been able to take one point from three games since the beginning of April.

The Valiants fell to a 2-0 defeat against Northampton Town, before they played out a goalless draw in last Saturday's home meeting with Wigan Athletic.

Darren Moore's side experienced disappointment in Wednesday's trip to the Weston Homes Stadium, where Peterborough United ran out 3-0 winners to cause Port Vale to drop into the bottom four on goal difference.

Having gone three matches without scoring, Port Vale need to discover a cutting edge in the final third if they are to have any chance of extending their two-year stay in the third tier.

With the Valiants in need of some inspiration, they may be able to draw confidence from the fact they have won their last two meetings against Exeter via a 1-0 scoreline.

Exeter will travel to Vale Park in a positive mood after they staged a late fightback to snatch a point from Tuesday's away meeting with Leyton Orient.

Millenic Alli scored in the 88th minute to halve the deficit against the O's, before Tom Carroll netted a stoppage-time equaliser to ensure the contest finished in a 2-2 draw.

Having put together a seven-game unbeaten run, Exeter are sitting in 12th place and one point shy of equalling last season's 56-point tally.

After scoring at least two goals in each of their last three away games, the Grecians will believe they have the firepower to exploit the weaknesses of a Port Vale side that has the third-worst defensive record in the division.

However, Exeter have tended to struggle in recent trips to Vale Park, having won just one of their previous six away meetings with Port Vale (D2, L3).

Port Vale League One form:

L

W

W

L

D

L

Exeter City League One form:

W

W

D

W

W

D

Team News

Port Vale are expected to be without the services of Mitch Clark, Dan Gore, James Wilson and Alex Mighten due to injury.

Ethan Chislett could be recalled to the side after dropping down to the bench for Wednesday's trip to Peterborough.

Defender Deklan Wynne may feature among the substitutes following his recent arrival on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Exeter manager Gary Caldwell may be unable to call upon the attacking duo of Sonny Cox and Mo Eisa.

Jack Aitchison is also a doubt after he was forced off with an injury in the first half of Tuesday's win over Leyton Orient.

Alli could be brought in to replace the forward if he is unable to feature, while there could also be a place in the starting lineup for Luke Harris.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Lowe, Smith, Iacovitti; Plant, Garrity, Ojo, Grant; Chislett; Massey, Loft

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Sinisalo; Sweeney, Aimson, Jules; Rankine, Woods, Carroll, Niskanen; Harris, Cole; Alli

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Exeter City

Previews by email

Top News

1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A key Liverpool man has admitted that there is logic to rumours that he could depart the Reds in the near future but has insisted that he is not looking to leave any time soon. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Scotland have been handed a huge injury blow ahead of Euro 2024 with Lyndon Dykes being ruled out of the tournament. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jadon Sancho's career is at a crossroads, with the Manchester United and England forward unsure where he will be playing his football next season. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to move for a new left-back during this summer's transfer window due to concerns over Luke Shaw's injury problems. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk San Lorenzo and Sarmiento will be hoping to record their first win of the Argentine Primera Division second phase when they meet at Estadio Pedro Bidegain on Monday night. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly put contract negotiations with his club on hold in order to focus on representing England at this summer's European Championship. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides towards the bottom of the Argentine Primera Division come together on Tuesday at the Estadio Norberto Tito Tomaghello on matchday four. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mason Greenwood is reportedly keen to return to Getafe next season, having enjoyed his time with the La Liga outfit during the 2023-24 campaign. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers have announced that Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, John Lundstram and Jon McLaughlin have all left the club following the expiry of their contracts. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Casemiro was reportedly unhappy that he was overlooked for a start in Manchester United's FA Cup final success over Manchester City last weekend. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly close to signing teenager James Overy. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A forgotten Liverpool defender has confirmed his desire to leave the Reds permanently this summer and has blasted the club for 'hindering' his future career. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona could reportedly sell Brazilian attacker Raphinha for €100m (£85.2m) during this summer's transfer window, with a powerful Saudi Pro League outfit said to be determined to sign him. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania have announced their provisional 28-man squad ahead of this summer's Euro 2024 in Germany. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania have announced their provisional 28-man squad ahead of this summer's Euro 2024 in Germany. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bound for this summer's Euro 2024 finals, Scotland seek an end to their long winless streak on Monday evening, when they meet international minnows Gibraltar at Estadio Algarve. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has named Barcelona's Fermin Lopez and Real Betis' Ayoze Perez in his preliminary squad for this summer's European Championship. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering a summer move for Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk While Jurgen Klopp lapped up most of the fanfare as he took his Liverpool leave, some attention turned to the Reds players who will not be continuing their careers under Arne Slot. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Beginning their build-up to Euro 2024, Croatia welcome North Macedonia to Rijeka for an international friendly on Monday evening. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Under the watchful eyes of head coach Mikel Arteta and esteemed sporting director Edu, Arsenal have made a habit of tying their integral performers down to new long-term contracts amid their rise to Premier League title challengers. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have released a statement confirming that 777 Partners' proposed takeover has fallen through having missed the latest deadline to buy the Premier League club. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before trying to cause a seismic shock in the Euro 2024 Group of Death, Albania seek a stress-free friendly win over minnows Liechtenstein on Monday night in Hungary. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England manager Gareth Southgate should not risk captain Harry Kane for the Three Lions' Euro 2024 warm-up friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James' Park on Monday evening. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their first of two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up friendlies, England welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to Newcastle United's St James' Park base on Monday evening. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have made a habit of handing long-term contracts to as many players as possible since their arrival in 2022. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly learned that a modest fee of £35m could be enough to capture one of their prime defensive targets for the summer transfer window. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace are reportedly in discussions with Sunderland over a deal for Jobe Bellingham. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have apparently made a shock approach to an ex-Barcelona manager amid perennial uncertainty over Erik ten Hag's future. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly suffered an early blow in their pursuit of a defensive midfielder, as one of Mikel Arteta's top targets has ruled out a switch to the Emirates Stadium.