Port Vale meet Grimsby in a stand-out Easter Monday showdown in League Two.
Victory will see Port Vale stay top heading into the final two matchdays of the season, whilst Grimsby can climb to seventh with a win if Colchester fail to beat Doncaster – although a draw would be enough for the Mariners if Doncaster defeat the Us.
Team News
Port Vale have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-2 defeat at Carlisle on Good Friday.
Kyle John and Ben Heneghan remain absent due to respective foot and ACL injuries.
Grimsby too have no fresh injury concerns to report after they were thrashed 4-0 by Swindon.
Christian Gardner and Justin Obikwu are both ruled out with unspecified injuries.
When is Kick-Off?
Port Vale host Grimsby at Vale Park on Easter Monday 21 April at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ Red Button in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Port Vale have won just one of their last six league meetings against Grimsby (W1, L5).
- Grimsby have won just two of their last seven league visits to Port Vale (W2, L5).
- Port Vale are chasing consecutive home wins over Grimsby for the first time since a four-match run from September 1999 to September 2009.
- Lorent Tolaj has scored three goals in Port Vale’s last two home games (W2).
- No Grimsby players have been involved in more league goals this season than Kieran Green (7 goals + 7 assists) and Danny Rose (12 goals + 2 assists), who have both been involved in 14 goals apiece.
Prediction
Still sat top of the table following a uncharacteristically sloppy defeat at Carlisle where they were just wasteful and lacked the spark which saw them thump Bromley in their previous outing beforehand, Port Vale now can’t afford another stumble here otherwise they face a difficult trip to AFC Wimbledon in their penultimate game.
Grimsby likewise have to buck up their ideas because they were just outclassed by Swindon in a game where they just never had much control in a toothless display, so victory here feels imperative if want a play-off spot especially with Colchester away at Doncaster which makes this a huge opportunity for the Mariners.
Both teams therefore won’t want to give too much away defensively in what could be a cagey start but if Port Vale can find their defensive edge once more, they should have enough to nick this but Grimsby won’t be easy to stop if they bring their best game.
Prediction: Port Vale 2-1 Grimsby
