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Port Vale
League One | Gameweek 41
Apr 10, 2023 at 3pm UK
Vale Park
Oxford United

Port Vale
0 - 0
Oxford Utd


Massey (44'), Smith (45'), Benning (45+4'), Pett (60'), Worrall (74')
Politic (90+2')
FT

McGuane (58'), Joseph (74')

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

Sports Mole previews Monday's League One clash between Port Vale and Oxford United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Port Vale will attempt to end their five-game winless run when they welcome Oxford United to Vale Park for Monday's League One contest.

Relegation-threatened Oxford are also desperate to claim all three points after failing to win any of their last 13 matches.


Match preview

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke pictured in May 2022© Reuters

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke will have to pick his players up for Monday's contest after they were heavily beaten by Accrington Stanley on Friday.

The Valiants were swept aside by a 3-0 scoreline, ensuring that they have now conceded at least two goals in each of their last four games.

Having picked up just two points from their previous five matches, Port Vale are languishing in 17th place and are at risk of being dragged into a relegation battle in the closing stages of the campaign.

As it stands, they still boast a healthy seven-point cushion to the bottom four, but they will be looking to mathematically secure their League One status sooner rather than later.

Ahead of Monday's fixture, the hosts can take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their previous four competitive home meetings with Oxford.

The U's, meanwhile, are in real danger of being relegated after picking up just four points from their last 13 matches.

Oxford have at least shown some signs of improvement since Liam Manning was appointed head coach, having played out three consecutive draws under the new manager.

In their most recent outing against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday, Cameron Brannagan dispatched a 70th-minute penalty to cancel out Barry Bannan's opener, ensuring that the home encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.

With seven matches left to play, the U's are just one point above the drop zone, and Manning will be fully aware that wins rather than draws are needed if Oxford are to retain their place in the third tier.

Wins may be hard to come by for the visitors, but they do have the chance to complete a league double over Port Vale, after cruising to a dominant 4-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

Oxford United League One form:


Team News

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in action with Oxford United's Marcus McGuane on January 9, 2023© Reuters

The Valiants are still expected to be without the services of Lewis Cass and Ben Garrity due to calf injuries.

After being sent off in stoppage time against, Funso Ojo will miss out through suspension, which could lead to Tom Conlon partnering Tom Pett in central midfield.

They will also be unable to call upon Oxford loanees Jack Stevens and Matty Taylor, who are ineligible to face their parent club.

As for the visitors, Elliott Moore will miss out after he suffered a concussion during Friday's draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Stephan Negru replaced Moore against the Owls to make his Oxford debut, and he could now be presented with his first start for the U's on Monday.

Kyle Joseph is expected to keep his place in the Oxford forward line, and he will be looking to add to the seven league goals that he has scored this season.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Stone; Forrester, Smith, Donnelly; Massey, Conlon, Pett, Robinson; Butterworth; Harrison, Wilson

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Long, Negru, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Murphy, Browne, Wildschut; Joseph


SM words green background

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Oxford United

Oxford will be desperate to claim their first win since January, but having failed to win on their last four trips to Vale Park, we think that they will have to settle for a point on Monday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Port Vale vs Oxford Utd

Port Vale
50.0%
Draw
33.3%
Oxford United
16.7%
6
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall24174348212755
2Crewe AlexandraCrewe251110433221143
3Salford City24126629191042
4Port Vale2511862925441
5AFC Wimbledon23124735191640
6Notts County24117638261240
7Doncaster RoversDoncaster2511773530540
8Bradford CityBradford2410863327638
9Grimsby Town25121123640-437
10Chesterfield249783829934
11MK Dons2310493631534
12Bromley2481063530534
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham2587103438-431
14Gillingham2393112224-230
15BarrowBarrow2477102326-328
16Harrogate TownHarrogate2684142337-1428
17Fleetwood TownFleetwood226972828027
18Colchester UnitedColchester2451272828027
19Newport CountyNewport2375113040-1026
20Accrington StanleyAccrington2367103240-825
21Swindon TownSwindon26510113141-1025
22Tranmere RoversTranmere2467111837-1925
23Morecambe2455142239-1720
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2446141938-1918


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