Port Vale will look to extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions when they welcome Burton Albion to Vale Park for Tuesday's League One contest.
In contrast to their hosts, Burton have experienced a slow start to the season, having failed to win any of their eight competitive matches.
Match preview
© Reuters
After being dragged into a relegation battle last season, Port Vale are determined to spend the 2023-24 campaign battling at the opposite end of the League One table.
The season may have started with a disastrous 7-0 defeat to Barnsley, but the Valiants have not lost since that result, having embarked on a nine-game unbeaten run.
Impressively, they have collected 16 points from their last six league matches, while they have also progressed through the first two rounds of the EFL Cup and won their first EFL Trophy game against Crewe Alexandra.
Port Vale were seemingly destined to play out a goalless draw with Northampton Town on Saturday, before substitute Ben Garrity found the net in the 84th minute to help his side claim a fourth consecutive victory in League One.
The Valiants, who sit level on points with league leaders Exeter City, will carry significant momentum into Tuesday's game, and they will be looking to produce another strong defensive performance, having recorded clean sheets in all five of their competitive home games this season.
While Port Vale are riding the crest of a wave, Burton are bereft of confidence after taking just two points from their opening seven league matches.
After beginning the League One campaign with three straight defeats, the Brewers looked to have turned a corner when they played out consecutive draws with Wycombe Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers.
Rather than build upon those two encouraging results, Burton experienced another dip, losing 1-0 to Exeter City before falling to a 2-0 defeat against Barnsley on Saturday.
As a result of their poor start, the Brewers are one of three teams yet to win a League One game this season, and they are currently languishing in the relegation zone with three points separating them from safety.
Only two teams have conceded more goals in League One than Dino Maamria's side this season, while they are also the second-lowest scorers in the third tier, highlighting the improvement required from Burton at both ends of the pitch if they are to move out of the danger zone.
Team News
Port Vale are still without the services of Tom Conlon, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury which has prevented him from featuring in the opening stages of the season.
Dan Jones is closing in on a return to full fitness after missing the last three league games through injury, but Tuesday's contest may come too soon for the full-back.
After coming off the bench to score the winner on Saturday, midfielder Garrity could be rewarded with a starting berth.
As for the visitors, Cole Stockton is ruled out due to a calf problem, and the striker is joined in the treatment room by Mason Bennett.
Captain John Brayford remains a doubt for the midweek encounter after missing Saturday's contest with a knock picked up in training.
Steve Seddon returns to the squad following a one-match suspension, and he could be brought into the starting lineup for the midweek fixture.
Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Smith, Balmer, Iacovitti; Sang, Arblaster, Ojo, Plant; Garrity, Devine; Wilson
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Hamer, Hughes, Moon; Kamwa, Oshilaja, Powell, Seddon; Helm, Lubala; Walker
We say: Port Vale 2-0 Burton Albion
With Port Vale proving to be an irresistible force in the early stages of the season, we think that they will continue their fine run of form by collecting all three points against a struggling Burton side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
