The Mariners are on the road this Saturday afternoon as Town travel to Vale Park to face Port Vale in Sky Bet League Two action.
David Artell’s side will be looking to return to winning ways after consecutive league defeats against Newport County and Shrewsbury Town, while the Valiants will be aiming to climb away from the lower reaches of the table.
Assistant Manager Tom Culshaw previewed this weekend’s game at yesterday’s pre-match press conference:
The Opposition
Port Vale currently sit 23rd in Sky Bet League Two, having collected five points from their opening seven league fixtures.
The Valiants began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat away at Oldham Athletic before drawing 1-1 with Tranmere Rovers. They then played out a goalless draw against Crewe Alexandra before suffering a 3-1 defeat at Swindon Town.
This was then followed by a 1-0 defeat away at Salford City, before Vale’s first league victory of the season came on 12th September, when they recorded a 1-0 home win against Exeter City – before losing 2-0 away at Walsall.
They have therefore recorded one victory, two draws and four defeats from their opening seven league matches, scoring three goals and conceding nine.
Port Vale are under the guidance of Jon Brady, who was appointed head coach in January 2026. The Australian previously enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Northampton Town, guiding the Cobblers to automatic promotion from League Two during the 2022/23 campaign before leading them to a mid-table finish in League One.
Brady began his managerial career at Brackley Town, where he spent more than six years in charge and won the Southern Premier Division title in 2011/12. He later joined Northampton, initially working within the club’s coaching setup before taking caretaker charge of the first team in 2021.
The Valiants will now be looking to Brady to turn their early-season fortunes around as they welcome the Mariners to Vale Park on Saturday.
Mariners’ Start
Town travel to Staffordshire looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats in Sky Bet League Two – the first time this has happened since December 2025.
The Mariners suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Newport County before falling to a 2-1 loss against Shrewsbury Town at Blundell Park. David Artell’s side will now be looking to respond positively and get back to winning ways on the road.
Despite those results, Town have made an encouraging start to the campaign overall, collecting 13 points and scoring 13 goals to sit ninth in the League Two table.
The Mariners have shown their attacking threat during the opening weeks of the season, and Saturday provides another opportunity to turn that attacking play into a positive result.
Town will be backed by a strong travelling contingent at Vale Park, with more than 1,000 supporters having secured tickets for the fixture. The players will be looking to reward that support with an improved performance and a return to winning ways.
Head-to-Head
Saturday’s fixture will add another chapter to a long-standing rivalry between the two clubs.
Across their previous 96 competitive meetings, Town hold the historical advantage, recording 43 victories to Port Vale’s 34, while 19 matches have ended in draws.
The sides have met across several divisions over the years, with their first meetings dating back to the 1892/93 season.
More recently, the Mariners have enjoyed some positive results against the Valiants. Town recorded a 3-0 victory at Blundell Park on 29th December 2024 before the sides played out a 2-2 draw at Vale Park on 21st April 2025.
Last Time We Met
The most recent meeting between the two sides came at Vale Park on Monday 21st April 2025, when Town and Port Vale played out a 2-2 draw in Sky Bet League Two.
The Mariners looked set to claim all three points after Danny Rose scored twice, opening the scoring in the first half before converting a penalty shortly after the interval.
Port Vale responded late in the game, with Tolaj reducing the deficit before Jesse Debrah struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point for the hosts.
The result followed Town’s impressive 3-0 victory over the Valiants at Blundell Park earlier in the same season, when the Mariners produced a strong performance to claim all three points.
Ones to Watch
George Byers
George Byers is one of the experienced players in the Port Vale midfield and will be looking to influence Saturday’s contest.
The midfielder has featured prominently for the Valiants during the early stages of the campaign, scoring twice in his opening four League Two appearances. Byers has also contributed to Vale’s work in possession, offering an option in midfield and looking to help his side create opportunities in the final third.
His performances have made him an important figure for Brady’s side, and Town will need to be alert to the threat he can pose when given space to operate. Byers will be hoping to help Port Vale find greater consistency as they look to improve their position in the league table.
The Numbers
- Town have recorded 43 victories in their previous competitive meetings with Port Vale, with the Valiants winning 34 and 19 matches ending in draws.
- The first meetings between the two clubs date back to the 1892/93 season.
- Town won 3-0 at Blundell Park when the sides last met there on 29th December 2024.
- The most recent meeting at Vale Park ended in a 2-2 draw on 21st April 2025.
- Danny Rose scored twice for Town in that draw, with Jesse Debrah equalising for Port Vale in stoppage time.
- Port Vale have collected five points from their opening seven League Two fixtures.
- The Valiants have recorded one victory, two draws and four defeats in the league this season.
- Port Vale have scored three goals and conceded nine across their opening seven league matches.
- Town sit ninth in the League Two table with 13 points and 13 goals scored.
- George Byers has scored twice in his opening four League Two appearances this season.
Match Officials
Ross Martin will take charge of Saturday’s fixture at Vale Park, with Lewis Raper and Zharir Mustafa appointed as assistant referees. Joseph Larkin will be the fourth official.
Martin has officiated 11 matches across all competitions during the 2026/27 season, issuing 42 yellow cards, one second yellow card and no straight red cards, while awarding two penalties.
In League Two, he has overseen two matches, showing five yellow cards. His most recent appointment involving the Mariners came on 23rd August 2025, when Town drew 1-1 away at Accrington Stanley.
Last season, Martin refereed 12 League Two matches, issuing 44 yellow cards, one straight red card and two penalties.
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