Notts County v Port Vale – Worrying Times For Notts County As Port Vale Chase Promotion

Port Vale have had a strange season. With tight wins and heavy losses, their successes have become difficult to predict. When a team can edge out a 3-2 win over Tranmere only to let in five without reply a few days later against Bristol City, it seems strange that they remain viable candidates for the final playoff place. With a minus eleven goal difference, however, they will need to start getting points on the board as the season draws to a close. This could play into Notts County’s hand, with the team finally starting to string together a bit of form after a long fallow period in the previous few months. With both teams needing a win, and with neither being particularly adept at defending, this could well be a high scoring affair.

With three wins from their last five, Port Vale are mounting a legitimate challenge on sixth place. With Preston likely too far ahead, the four points between Port Vale and Peterborough is beginning to look very manageable indeed. Tight wins against Crawley and Walsall in their previous two games seem to demonstrate the kind of nerve and attitude which could play well in the final weeks of the season. Thanks to the negative goal difference, Port Vale will need nothing less than a win in each match in order to ensure that they are not matched for points by any of their promotion rivals.

Notts County have also enjoyed three wins from their last five, though in their case, this followed a long period of failing to win. With six losses in their last ten, it is easy to see how the team have slipped into a difficult position, but a return to winning ways could well see them clamber out. There remains only six points between their current position of twenty third and Crawley in seventeenth. A result against one of the promotion chasers could be exactly the kind of result which inspires them to stay in the division.

Injuries

Port Vale will be without the services of Chris Lines as the player continues to serve his four match suspension. Ben Williamson may return to full fitness following an ankle injury which had kept him out for a short while.

Notts County manager Shaun Derry continues to enjoy an array of options at his disposal and there are likely to be no new injury concerns going into the game. With a fit and healthy squad, the manager might well be thankful that he has few selection headaches ahead of the difficult run in. With every point up for grabs, having a fully fit squad could just make the difference when looking to remain in the division.

Forms

Notts County

Overall: P41 W12 D04 L25

Most Recent: LWWWL

Predicted Line-Up: Bialkowski; Dumbuya, Mullins, Hollis, Sheehan; Campbell-Royce, Liddle, Vela, Tyson; Spencer, Murray.

Port Vale

Overall: P41 W17 D06 L18

Most Recent: WLDWW

Predicted Line-Up: Johnson; Duffy, Robertson, Dickinson, Jones; Birchall, Knott, Loft, Myrie Williams; Pope, Tomlin.

Prediction: Notts County 3 – 2 Port Vale

The Meadow Lane crowd might just be enough to turn this one in the home team’s favour, this could well turn into a case of who has the best attacking instincts when coming up against not-so-sturdy defences.