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

The two teams will be meeting for the first time since February 2017 when Posh secured a 3-0 victory away from home.

Match preview

After claiming 15 points from a possible 18 available in their opening six League One fixtures, Peterborough have since failed to pick up a single point in their last four games.

A 2-1 loss away at Derby County at the end of August was followed by three more defeats this month against Portsmouth, Fleetwood Town and Bolton Wanderers, and this miserable run has seen them slip down to 10th in the table, nine points behind the summit.

Posh at least returned to winning ways in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday after beating Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s 3-0, with Josh Knight, Ricky-Jade Jones and Jack Marriott all on the scoresheet.

After travelling away from home in three of their last four fixtures, Grant McCann's side will welcome a return to London Road, where they have won three of their four league matches this term, scoring nine goals and conceding only once.

Peterborough have failed to win their last two home clashes with Port Vale, however, and another defeat on Saturday could see them slip towards the relegation zone.

Port Vale have experienced an inconsistent start to the new season, winning three, drawing three, and losing three of their first nine League One matches.

However, across all competitions, the Valiants have put together a five-game unbeaten run and they have won their last two games against Shrewsbury Town, securing a 2-1 league win last weekend, before cruising to a 4-0 success on the road in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

While Darrell Clarke's side are on course to progress to the EFL Trophy knockout rounds, they currently sit 13th in the League One table, level on points with Saturday's opponents Peterborough.

Last season's League Two playoff winners have won only two of their last 18 away league matches at Peterborough, but a victory this weekend could see them climb as high a sixth in the table.

Peterborough United competition form:

W

W

L

L

L

L

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

L

W

Port Vale competition form:

L

W

L

D

D

W

Port Vale form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

W

W

Team News

Peterborough duo Oliver Norburn (knee) and Harvey Cartwright (thigh) are both ruled out with injuries, while Ronnie Edwards and Joe Taylor are away on international duty with England's Under-20s and Wales' Under-21s respectively.

Frankie Kent is expected to replace Edwards at centre-back, joining Knight, Nathan Thompson and Dan Butler in the back four.

Jonson Clarke-Harris, who has scored three goals in his last three home games, is set to lead the line, with Marriott and Kwame Poku potentially joining him in attack.

As for Port Vale, striker Jamie Procter is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery last week.

Ellis Harrison, who has scored five goals in seven league matches so far this season, could be handed another start in attack along with Daniel Butterworth and Dennis Politic, the latter of whom netted at hat-trick on Tuesday against Shrewsbury.

Goalkeeper Aidan Stone, left wing-back Mal Benning and midfield duo Funso Ojo and Ben Garrity could all be recalled to the first XI, which would therefore see Jack Stevens, Liam McCarron, Brad Walker and Tommy McDermott all drop to the substitutes' bench.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; N. Thompson, Knight, Kent, Butler; Kyprianou, Taylor, Fuchs; Marroitt, Clarke-Harris, Poku

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Stone; Robinson, Forrester, Hall; Worrall, Garrity, Ojo, Benning; Politic; Butterworth, Harrison

We say: Peterborough United 1-1 Port Vale

While the two sides have experienced contrasting runs of form in recent weeks, a closely-fought contest is to be expected on Saturday.

Peterborough will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways on home soil, but we can see the points being shared on this occasion.

Previews by email