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

The hosts are currently sitting in 18th place, while the visitors are one point clear at the top of the League One table.

Match preview

Port Vale are preparing to play their first meaningful game since playing out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Charlton on January 6.

The Valiants saw their away clash with Reading abandoned due to fan protests, before last Saturday's home meeting with Wycombe Wanderers was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Although they have at least two games in hand on the teams around them, Port Vale are currently battling for their League One survival with just four points separating them from the relegation zone.

While they are bracing themselves for a tough test, Andy Crosby's side can take confidence from the fact they have lost just one of their last four home league games (W2, D1).

Having scored two goals in each of those four home matches, Port Vale will hope they have the firepower required to trouble a Portsmouth side that boasts the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, bounced back from consecutive defeats to claim a narrow away win over Fleetwood Town last weekend.

Abu Kamara's 25th-minute striker proved enough to condemn the relegation-threatened side to a 1-0 defeat and end Pompey's three-game winless away run.

While Portsmouth remain top of the table, they are only two points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers, who have two games in hand over the league leaders.

Pompey will fancy their chances of adding to their points tally on Saturday, having lost just two of their 14 away league games this season.

They can also take confidence from the fact they have won two of their last three meetings with Port Vale (D1), including a 2-0 win in October's reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

D

L

W

L

D

D

Portsmouth League One form:

L

D

W

L

L

W

Team News

Port Vale are still unable to call upon James Plant, Mitch Clark, Ben Garrity and Funso Ojo, while Jesse Debrah is a doubt due to a hamstring issue.

Dan Jones, who has spent the majority of the season on the sidelines, is now back in full training and closing in on a return to the matchday squad.

After arriving on loan from Manchester United, Dan Gore could come into the side to make his Port Vale debut in Saturday's contest.

As for the league leaders, they remain without the injured quartet of Regan Poole, Zach Swanson, Alex Robertson and Tino Anjorin, while Kusini Yengi is away on international duty with Australia.

Mousinho is hopeful that Joe Morrell will shake off a knock in time for the weekend, but the fixture may come too soon for Joe Rafferty, who is struggling with a neck problem.

Myles Peart-Harris could be brought into the starting lineup to make his debut after joining on loan from Brentford until the end of the season.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Smith, Lowe, Iacovitti; Massey, Gore, Weir, Grant; Wilson, Chislett, Ikpeazu

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Norris; Shaughnessy, Raggett, Towler; Devlin, Pack, Morrell, Lowery; Kamara, Peart-Harris, Bishop

We say: Port Vale 1-2 Portsmouth

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