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

The visitors, meanwhile, returned to winning ways at the weekend to move back into the top half of League One's table.

Match preview

Having put together an impressive unbeaten run of nine league matches at Mazuma Stadium in recent months, Morecambe were finally beaten on home territory by Peterborough United on Saturday.

Posh raced into a 3-0 lead within the opening 30 minutes, with goals from Jack Taylor, Joe Ward and Kwame Poku essentially ending the match as a contest during the early exchanges.

However, the Shrimps' manager Derek Adams - who returned to the club last February after a disappointing spell with Bradford City - will be relieved to see that his side quickly have an opportunity to put things right against Port Vale on Tuesday.

With Accrington Stanley only two points clear of them in safety, a win would be enough to move Morecambe out of the relegation zone, providing Cambridge United fail to win away to Fleetwood Town.

Port Vale, meanwhile, had collected just two points from their previous seven matches ahead of hosting Exeter City at the weekend, but William Forrester's strike on the hour mark finally ended their winless run.

Claiming all three points against a fellow promoted side would have been a huge relief for their manager Darrell Clarke and his players, who had consistently punched above their weight at this level until their recent poor run of form.

Indeed, Saturday's win moved the Valiants back into the top half of the table directly ahead of their opponents, as they look to secure their best placing since finishing ninth in the third tier in the 2013-14 campaign.

As such, with any outside fears of an instant return to League Two surely put to bed from their most recent victory, Clarke will be hoping his side can demonstrate their superiority against genuine relegation strugglers on Tuesday.

Morecambe League One form:

L

W

L

D

L

L

Port Vale League One form:

D

L

D

L

L

W

Team News

Given the short turnaround between fixtures and the disappointing nature of his side's defeat to Peterborough on Saturday, Adams may be contemplating making a few changes against Port Vale.

Jake Taylor, whose season has been disrupted by injuries, featured from the bench at the weekend and could start for the first time since December.

Port Vale, meanwhile, will travel without Lewis Cass and Daniel Jones due to calf and ankle injuries respectively.

However, the likes of Matty Taylor, Ellis Harrison and Tom Conlon have proven their fitness in recent weeks after suffering with injury issues themselves, with Clarke unlikely to make any changes to the side which dispatched Exeter at the weekend.

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Cooney, Rawson, Bedeau, Gibson; Weir, Shaw; Gnahoua, Taylor, Mayor; Stockton

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Stone; Forrester, Smith, Donnelly; Worrall, Ojo, Pett, Robinson; Garrity; Taylor, Massey

We say: Morecambe 1-0 Port Vale

Despite losing to play-off contenders Peterborough last time out, Morecambe have been extremely tough to beat at home in recent months, and they will sense an opportunity to move outside of the bottom four on Tuesday.

Port Vale have performed above expectations this season but Saturday's win against Exeter was their first victory since January 1, and they may be edged out in what is likely to be a tight game.

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