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

Two sides currently hovering around mid-table in League Two meet at Vale Park on Saturday, as Port Vale host Rochdale.

After poor starts to the season, both have picked up their league form in recent weeks in order to climb the table.

Match preview

Port Vale began the season with two defeats from two after an opening-day league defeat away to Northampton Town was followed by a loss at home to League One side Sunderland in the EFL Cup.

However, these were tough matches to start the season with and this weekend's hosts have improved since, despite a worrying lack of goals scored.

Only six goals have been scored in their opening seven matches in all competitions, even with an improving return after scoring four in their last two.

After the opening-day defeat though, The Valiants have since gone unbeaten in league action and picked up their first and so far only win of the season last weekend at Forest Green Rovers by a 2-0 scoreline.

An EFL Trophy tie followed in midweek and despite an impressive performance against higher division opposition, Port Vale fell to a 3-2 defeat at Bolton Wanderers for their first loss in five matches.

They will take positives from that defeat though, especially the two goals scored to add to the two against Forest Green, after the struggles in front of goal earlier in the season as mentioned above.

After surviving the drop so narrowly for a number of years, Rochdale's fortunes ran out when they were relegated from League One to League Two last season.

This weekend's visitors would have hoped for a flying start to stamp their mark with a view to returning to League One at the first attempt.

However, beginning the new league campaign with two defeats and a draw was not what new manager Robbie Stockdale would have wished for.

Since those struggles though, Rochdale have gone unbeaten in their four matches in all competitions, winning three and drawing the other.

Only two of these were in League Two but Stockdale will be pleased to see his side build some momentum ahead of their expected promotion push.

The most recent match was an impressive 4-0 triumph over Liverpool's Under-21s side in the EFL Trophy in midweek, with goals from Liam Kelly, Josh Andrews and a brace from Corey O'Keefe seeing off the young outfit.

Team News

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke made seven changes for the cup trip to Bolton in midweek, which included James Gibbons making his first appearance of the season after a spell out with injury.

This was the same case with Jake Taylor as well, as he made a substitute appearance after being unavailable since last season.

Theo Robinson left the club on transfer deadline day to join Bradford City after the mutual termination of his contract.

There were no arrivals on deadline day but George Lloyd had arrived on loan from Cheltenham Town in time to make his debut from the bench against Bolton in the week. He may be pushing for a start.

Meanwhile, Robbie Stockdale had made eight changes to his Rochdale side ahead of the victory in the EFL Trophy in the week.

The impressive result and performance means he will have some tough decisions to make ahead of this weekend's trip to Port Vale.

Liam Kelly made his debut and scored in the win in midweek so will be under serious consideration for a start.

Stockdale had recently stated how he is willing to rotate his lineups and welcomed the return of several players from injuries recently.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Covolan; Smith, Martin, Jones; Worrall, Garrity, Walker, Pett, Benning; Wilson, Proctor

Rochdale possible starting lineup:
Coleman; Taylor, O'Connell, Dorsett; O'Keefe, Dooley, Morley, Kelly, Keohane; Newby, Beesley

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Rochdale

This a tight encounter to call between two sides in the middle of a run of improved form in terms of performances and results in recent weeks. With Port Vale playing at home, we say they will manage a draw against promotion hopefuls Rochdale. We predict a 1-1 draw with the sides cancelling each other out.

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