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

Just one point separates the pair in the table, with Port Vale looking to leapfrog Charlton in the table with a victory.

Match preview

In a bit of a rut, Charlton are without a win in their last three league matches having posted a 4-4 and 3-3 draw in their last two outings.

While entertaining, the results will no doubt provide a concern for the Athletic faithful, who will be hoping their side shows more grit this weekend.

No side in the top 14 positions in the league have conceded more goals than Charlton, with the London-based outfit without a clean sheet in their last five matches across all competitions.

For Port Vale, their first season back in League One has started off well and the side from Burslem enter the weekend in the comfort of mid-table.

A hefty defeat to Oxford United last weekend set them back somewhat, but it did represent just the second loss Port Vale have suffered in seven League One fixtures.

However, that form looks a little more shaky when analysing Port Vale's home record, with the Valiants having won one of their previous four matches at Vale Park.

Last facing each other all the way back in November 2016, Saturday's fixture comes exactly six years to the day since the pair previously met.

Also in League One, Charlton won the game at The Valley, with the three head-to-heads before that finishing in stalemates.

Remarkably, it is 25 years since Port Vale last took three points against Charlton, triumphing 2-0 at Vale Park in December 1997.

Port Vale League One form:

D

W

L

W

D

L

Port Vale form (all competitions):

W

L

W

D

L

L

Charlton Athletic League One form:

W

W

W

L

D

D

Charlton Athletic form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

W

D

Team News

Aidan Stone conceded four goals last time out between the sticks for Port Vale, with the 23-year-old no doubt keen to keep a shutout this weekend.

Setting up in a 5-3-2 formation, it is likely Ellis Wade Harrison and Gavin Massey will lead the line for the goal shy Port Vale.

A midfield duo of Tom George Sawyer Conlon and Thomas George Pett will operate in the engine room for Port Vale, while Malvind Singh Benning and Samson Robinson should flank the wings.

Having scored two goals last time out, Charlie Kirk will be hoping to extend his strong run of goalscoring form for Charlton this weekend.

Whereas for goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, who has conceded three goals last time out, a clean sheet will be the target on Saturday.

Centre back partners Ryan Inniss and Samuel Lavelle should retain their positions at the heart of the Charlton defence.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Stone; Forrester, Smith, Jones; Robinson, Pett, Conlon, Benning, Butterworth; Massey, Harrison

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:

MacGillivray; Chin, Lavelle, Inniss, Sessegnon; Rak-Sakyi, Dobson, Fraser, Campbell; Stockley, Kirk

We say: Port Vale 1-2 Charlton Athletic

While their head-to-head record does not make for strong reading, Port Vale are within touching distance of Charlton and will have the chance to jump ahead of them in the table.

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