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

Meanwhile, the relegation-threatened visitors will be desperate to record their first victory since the end of December.

Match preview

Derby's promotion bid has lost significant momentum after they gave up leads to lose 2-1 to both Barnsley and Charlton Athletic.

Eiran Cashin put the Rams in front in Tuesday's home meeting with Charlton, before an Alfie May penalty and a Karoy Anderson strike turned the game in Charlton's favour.

Fortunately for Derby, they are still sitting in second position after third-placed Bolton also suffered back-to-back defeats.

Paul Warne's side will be determined to return to winning ways this weekend as they look to complete a league double over Port Vale after claiming a narrow 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture.

The Derby boss will also want to see his side offer an improvement in the final third, having failed to score more than one goal in eight of their last nine matches.

Port Vale gave up a two-goal lead to miss the chance to end their long wait for a win in Tuesday's home clash with relegation rivals Fleetwood Town.

Jensen Weir and Ethan Chislett grabbed a goal apiece to put Port Vale in the driving seat, but a late Jayden Stockley brace ultimately denied the Valiants their first victory of 2024.

Having failed to win any of their last 14 matches, the Valiants are languishing in 22nd place with four points separating them from safety.

After being held to a draw in their midweek home fixture, Port Vale will head on their travels for Saturday's contests, where they will attempt a run of four consecutive defeats on the road.

While they have struggled in recent away games, the visitors may be able to draw inspiration from the 1-0 win they picked up in their last season's away meeting with Derby.

Derby County League One form:

W

D

W

W

L

L

Port Vale League One form:

L

D

L

L

L

D

Team News

Derby are still unable to call upon the injured quartet of Jake Rooney, Craig Forsyth, Conor Washington and James Collins.

Callum Elder and Conor Hourihane are both doubts after they missed the midweek defeat to Charlton due to minor injury issues.

There are also concerns over the fitness of right-back Ryan Nyambe, who was forced off with a knock in Tuesday's home outing.

As for the visitors, Uche Ikpeazu remains sidelined with a shoulder problem, while it remains to be seen whether Mitchell Clark will be passed fit in time for the weekend.

Kacper Lopata and Alex Iacovitti are set to retain their places in the back three after coming into the side for Tuesday's draw with Fleetwood.

Moore could be tempted to present Alex Mighten with his second start since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest in January.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Wildsmith; Wilson; Nelson, Cashin, Sibley; Adams, Hourihane; Barkuizen, Bird, Mendez-Laing; Gayle

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Lopata, Iacovitti, Debrah; Sang, Ojo, Garrity, Jones; Weir, Chislett, Mighten

We say: Derby County 2-0 Port Vale

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