Port Vale
- Port Vale are at the bottom of League One with 3 wins from 21 games and 15 points.
- Port Vale boss Darren Moore is arguably one of the best promotion chasers in the EFL and has a reputation for building well-organised, tough to beat teams that have the odd hero in them.
- The Vale boss is a straight down the line coach who knows how to play compact, disciplined soccer and will set his team up to stay compact and be a threat on the counter-attack, particularly from set pieces.
- He doesn’t take many risks but recent results have seen pressure build on his position as the Valiants have suffered a 5 - 0 Boxing Day thumping by Huddersfield, a narrow 1 - 0 loss to Peterborough and a 2 - 2 draw at Luton.
- They have, however, shown signs of life in the cups with a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers and a 5-0 EFL Trophy rout of Barnsley.
Blackpool
- Blackpool are 19th in League One with 26 points from 22 games - having climbed clear of the drop zone after Ian Evatt’s arrival.
- Blackpool are no longer in a dire situation in League One after a recent upturn in results since the appointment of club legend Ian Evatt.
- Evatt has set up his team to be a possession-first side and play with a high-line and wing-backs in an attempt to control the tempo and create overloads in wide areas.
- His early success at Blackpool has been built around pressing the ball, getting it back and playing a higher tempo game than some of his predecessors.
- The arrival of the club legend has also instilled belief in the squad and they have started to look more dangerous in the attacking third.
Head-to-Head
Vale won the last two, including a 3-0 success in League One earlier this season and a 1-0 upset in the EFL Cup .
Port Vale
- The Valiants’ Devante Cole is their biggest threat, delivering crucial goals and assists since joining.
- Mo Faal has direct pace and power, scoring on his debut against Blackpool in the EFL Cup, while Joe Gauci’s loan arrival has brought stability to the goal, with clean sheets in cup ties.
Blackpool
- Ashley Fletcher is Blackpool’s top scorer.
- Dale Taylor, when fit, provides a spark for Blackpool’s front two, while Tom Bloxham, on as a sub, got the winner against Doncaster.
Betting Insights
- Moore has made clear improvements in Vale’s defensive structure and set-piece threat but the league form is still worrying.
- Port Vale are favored by bookies at 2.46 with Blackpool at 2.86 and the draw at 3.15, suggesting they feel it will be close.
- Backing the visitors to secure a result seems like the safest play here with Blackpool in better form, with more defensive solidity and a feel-good factor at the club following Evatt’s return.
- Port Vale have struggled to score in the league and the under 2.5 goals market, which is available at 1.75, seems like a good play here given Blackpool have kept three clean sheets in five and both teams have been involved in low-scoring games recently.
Prediction
- There’s a feeling that Evatt’s men can edge this contest, even if it is a narrow win on the road, as Vale look to win a massive ‘six-pointer’ in the relegation battle.
- The Vale Park pitch could be a factor with cool, damp conditions likely to make the surface slick and favour Blackpool’s transition play and directness.
