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

The hosts are languishing in 22nd place in the league table, while the Shrews are six points better off in 19th position.

Match preview

Former Huddersfield Town boss Darren Moore has been unable to spark an upturn in fortunes since being named Port Vale manager last month.

Moore has seen four of his five matches end in defeat, including Tuesday's away fixture against promotion-chasing Derby County.

The Rams netted three goals without reply to clinch maximum points and condemn the Valiants to a fifth consecutive away defeat.

As a result of the midweek loss, Port Vale have now gone 11 league matches since beating Blackpool 3-0 at the end of December.

Although they are sitting in a precarious position, they have the chance to boost their survival hopes and move to within three points of safety if they can beat Shrewsbury this weekend.

Shrewsbury, meanwhile, will be looking for a positive response after failing to take anything from their previous two outings.

After losing 3-0 in their away game against Lincoln City, Paul Hurst's side fell to a 2-0 home defeat in last Saturday's some clash with Blackpool.

Goals from Blackpool's Karamoko Dembele and Hayden Coulson left Shrewsbury to reflect upon a fourth defeat in five home league matches (D1).

With four points keeping them above 21st-place Cheltenham Town, the Shrews are currently facing a battle to extend their stay in the third tier into a 10th consecutive season, but they can significantly boost their survival hopes with an away win on Saturday.

The visitors have the chance to complete a league double over Port Vale after goals from Max Mata and Daniel Udoh secured them a 2-0 win in November's reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

D

L

L

L

D

L

Shrewsbury Town League One form:

D

D

L

W

L

L

Team News

Port Vale is likely to be without the services of Dan Gore, James Wilson and Uche Ikpeazu due to their respective injury issues.

They also have concerns over the availability of Tom Sang, Dan Jones and Ryan Loft after the trio missed the midweek defeat to Derby.

Mitch Clark will provide Moore with an option off the bench after he made his long-awaited return from injury as a substitute in Tuesday's defeat to Derby.

As for Shrewsbury, defender Aaron Pierre will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a groin injury last month.

Tom Flanagan is closing in on a return to fitness, but Saturday's contest is likely to come too soon for the centre-back.

Midfielder Tom Bayliss could be recalled to the starting lineup after he dropped down to the bench for the home defeat to Blackpool.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Lopata, Debrah, Iacovitti; Massey, Ojo, Plant, Clark; Weir; Chislett, Garrity

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Burgoyne; Feeney, Dunkley, Sraha, Benning; Winchester, Hinchy; Bloxham, Bayliss, Shipley; Udoh

We say: Port Vale 2-2 Shrewsbury Town

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