Preview: Burton Albion vs Port Vale - prediction, team news, lineups

Burton Albion will be aiming to post their second League One victory of the 2025-26 campaign when they welcome Port Vale to Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts are 11th in the League One table, boasting three points from their opening two matches of the campaign, while Port Vale are 17th, having picked up one point from their first two fixtures.

Match preview

Burton Albion opened their 2025-26 League One campaign with a 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town, but they were beaten 3-2 by Barnsley last time out in a blockbuster of a contest.

Gary Bowyer's side actually took a two-goal lead against Barnsley in the latter stages of the first period, but the hosts scored three times in the second half to turn the game around.

Burton Albion finished 20th in League One last season, so there is plenty of room for improvement this season, and three points from their opening two matches has left them in 11th spot in the table.

The Staffordshire outfit have lost two of their last three matches against Port Vale, including a 1-0 reverse when the two teams last locked horns in March 2024.

Burton Albion have been incredibly busy this summer in terms of recruitment, with nine players arriving, while there have been 16 departures, so there is a fresh look to the squad this term.

Port Vale, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Blackpool in the League Cup, with the team progressing to the second round of the competition, where they will take on Birmingham City.

Darren Moore's side finished second in League Two last season to earn promotion to the third tier, and their main aim for the 2025-26 campaign will be to consolidate at this level.

The Valiants opened their league season with a 2-1 defeat to Rotherham United, but they did manage to put a point on the board last weekend, holding Cardiff City to a goalless draw.

One point from two matches has left Port Vale in 17th spot in the table, and they will be desperate to put three on the board ahead of a midweek clash at home to Stevenage.

Burton Albion League One form:

Port Vale League One form:

Port Vale form (all competitions):

LDW

Team News

Tavares has already shown his class in the early stages of his time at Burton Albion, finding the back of the net against Barnsley, and he will once again operate in the final third of the field.

Fellow new signing Jake Beesley is also off the mark for the new campaign, and the 28-year-old will start in the attack, while Toby Sibbick is in line for another spot at the back.

The home side will be without the services of Geraldo Bajrami on Saturday, though, with the centre-back not yet featuring this season due to an injury problem.

As for Port Vale, head coach Moore will make changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Blackpool in the EFL Cup last time out.

George Byers will be back in the team in midfield, while there will also be a return in the final third of the field for Ronan Curtis, who is set to start alongside Lorent Tolaj.

Mo Faal is injured, though, so the 22-year-old will not be in the matchday squad this weekend.

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Amissah; Godwin-Malife, Moon, Sibbick; Lofthouse, Webster, Chauke, Williams; McKiernan, Tavares, Beesley

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Marosi; John, Hall, Debrah; Clark, Croasdale, Byers, Ojo, Gordon; Tolaj, Curtis

We say: Burton Albion 1-1 Port Vale

This is a tough match to call, as both teams have shown positive signs early in the new campaign; Burton Albion have home advantage, but we are expecting Port Vale to be good enough for a point on Saturday.

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