Port Vale

vs

Burton Albion

Preview

Port Vale

• Port Vale have won two, drawn three and lost seven of their 12 home games in League One.
• The hosts come into this contest in slightly better form than the Brewers, who have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five in League One.
• Port Vale have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five, coming off a gritty 1-0 win at Leyton Orient and a battling 0-0 home draw with AFC Wimbledon.
• Vale boss Jon Brady has brought a fresh approach to Port Vale since taking over in January 2026, instilling an aggressive, high-work rate mentality to his side that can adapt between back-three and back-four systems with ease.
• They are good on the counter attack and have a real desire to attack the second ball and transition quickly from defence to attack.

Burton Albion

• Burton Albion are winless in their last three away games, losing three in a row.
• Gary Bowyer, who has had a similar impact at Burton since taking over in December 2024, will no doubt set his side up to be disciplined, organised and to counter-attack well from a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 structure.
• The visitors will look to press the middle of the field hard and hit Port Vale’s players in behind.
• Burton have a slight edge in the matchup with two wins to Port Vale’s one in their last four encounters, which last time out finished 0-0 in League One five months ago.

Head-to-Head

Key Players

• Port Vale have only scored 11 goals in 12 home matches in League One 2025/2026.
• Burton are similarly lacking in forward options with Jake Beesley, who has 10 goals in 27 League One games, their main hope.

Betting Insights

• But Port Vale have failed to win their last two home games against the Brewers and this contest seems too close to call with the home team at 2.14, Burton at 3.4 and the draw at 3.25.
• With neither side particularly good in attack, we’re staying away from the game total markets and instead taking the under 2.5 goals option at 1.7.

Prediction