With tensions high amidst the race for promotion from League Two, Port Vale will welcome Notts County to Vale Park on Thursday.
The hosts are sixth with 49 points and occupy the third of four promotion playoff spots, while Notts County are in second place with 53 points following their 2-0 win against Morecambe on February 8 and currently hold one of three automatic promotion spots.
Match preview
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Port Vale drew 3-3 against 15th-placed Swindon Town in League Two on Saturday and will feel they should not have dropped points given their opponents' only big chance was their 20th-minute penalty.
The draw was preceded by a 4-1 defeat against Wrexham on February 4 and the stalemate last time out means they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past six, conceding 12 in that time.
Boss Darren Moore will hope for a repeat of his side's 1-0 victory against Notts County earlier on October 5 when they defended exceptionally well and managed to pose a number of challenges during counter-attacks despite mustering just 28% possession.
Moore's team have only lost once in their last seven outings – winning three and drawing three – though they drew two, lost one and won just one of their last four matches.
The Valiants' record at home is mixed as while they have triumphed in two of their three most recent fixtures at Vale Park, they drew three and were beaten in one of their prior four.
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As for Notts County, they were deserving victors last weekend considering they created nearly 2.2 xG and faced just one truly threatening chance throughout the game, with Marcus Dackers producing Morecambe's only effort worth more than 0.1 xG.
The visitors boast a phenomenal defensive record in recent weeks given they have kept six clean sheets in their past 10 outings, and have in fact conceded just twice in their last six games.
Manager Stuart Maynard's side are one point and one place ahead of third-placed Doncaster Rovers, but they have played one game less and victory on Thursday would see them open up a four-point advantage on their promotion rivals.
The Magpies are unbeaten in six matches – winning five – and have emerged victorious in eight of their last 10 while losing just once.
Notts County have triumphed in their four most recent away fixtures, scoring 12 and conceding four, though they did lose four and draw three of their previous seven games on the road.
Team News
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Port Vale may have to start Ronan Curtis in the forward line alongside Lorent Tolaj given Jayden Stockley was substituted due to injury against Swindon Town.
Nathan Smith, Ben Heneghan and Connor Hall may be trusted to play in a back three ahead of goalkeeper Ben Amos.
Rekeem Harper was positioned at the base of a midfield three last time out, and he could be accompanied in the centre of the pitch on Thursday by Ryan Croasdale and Ben Garrity.
Meanwhile, Notts County will almost certainly rest wing-back Jodi Jones, who was taken off against Morecambe after 25 minutes, though the injury-plagued forward insisted that he only suffered a minor issue.
If Jones is absent, expect Will Jarvis to replace the wing-back, while Kellan Gordon is likely to continue on the opposite flank.
Given their success at the back against Morecambe, Maynard could start the same back three, which consisted of Rod McDonald, Matthew Platt and Jacob Bedeau.
Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Amos; Smith, Heneghan, Hall; John, Croasdale, Harper, Garrity, Headley; Tolaj, Curtis
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Bass; McDonald, Platt, Bedeau; Gordon, Abbot, Palmer, Jarvis; Edwards; Jatta, Whitaker
We say: Port Vale 1-2 Notts County
It is difficult to see Port Vale creating many chances against Notts County considering the visitors have been exceptional defensively in recent weeks.
The away side will feel confident that they can secure a positive result given the hosts have struggled for consistency at home, and they should come into Thursday's clash as favourites.
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Lewis Nolan
