Preview: Port Vale vs Cardiff City – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Port Vale will play their first home game of the season when they welcome Cardiff City to Vale Park for Thursday’s League One contest.

The Valiants fell to a narrow defeat in their opening game against Rotherham United, while the Bluebirds kicked off their campaign with a win over Peterborough.

Match preview

After suffering relegation in the 2023-24 campaign, Port Vale show great character to return to the third tier at the first time of asking. 

The Valiants secured promotion via a second-placed finish after winning 22, drawing 14 and losing 10 of their 46 league matches.

Port Vale made a losing return to the third tier after experiencing a disastrous first half in their away clash against Rotherham United. 

Sam Nombe netted a brace inside the opening half-hour, before Port Vale were reduced to ten men when Jaheim Headley was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Rotherham’s goalscorer.

Connor Hall pulled a goal back in the second period, but Darren Moore’s side failed in their quest to find an elusive equaliser, as they fell to a narrow 2-1 loss at the New York Stadium.

Port Vale will hope to get off the mark in their first meeting with Cardiff since 2014, but that may be easier said than done, having lost each of their last six head-to-head matches since they recorded a 3-1 victory in May 1994.

Meanwhile, Cardiff are competing in the third tier for the first time since 2001-02 after finishing bottom of the Championship last season.

The Bluebirds have turned to Brian Barry-Murphy to lead their promotion bid, with the 47-year-old returning to senior management after working in the Manchester City youth setup and as part of Leicester City’s backroom staff.

Barry-Murphy enjoyed a positive start to his tenure, overseeing a 2-1 victory in Saturday’s home clash against Peterborough United.

Rubin Colwill restored parity in the early stages of the second period after Peterborough’s Bradley Ihionvien opened the scoring with a first-half penalty. 

Defender Ronan Kpakio completed the turnaround with a goal on the hour mark, before the Bluebirds saw out the remainder of the contest to clinch all three points at the Cardiff City Stadium. 

Cardiff will now be looking to continue their impressive record at Vale Park, having recorded victories in their previous three away games against Port Vale, scoring at least two goals in each of those matches.

Port Vale League One form:

Cardiff City League One form:

Team News

Port Vale are unable to call upon the services of right-back Jordan Gabriel and captain Ben Garrity after the pair missed the opening game of the season through injury.

The Valiants are also without goalkeeper Ben Amos due to a muscle issue, meaning that Marko Marosi will retain his place in between the posts for Thursday’s contest.

Wing-back Headley is suspended for the home fixture after being sent off in the opening day defeat to Rotherham.

As for the visitors, they remain without the injured Perry Ng, while Alex Robertson is a doubt after sitting out Saturday’s win over Peterborough.

Captain Calum Chambers should come into the starting lineup after serving a one-match ban for his dismissal on the final day of the 2024-25 season against Norwich City.

David Turnbull missed the league opener due to internal disciplinary action, and it remains to be seen whether he will do enough to convince Barry-Murphy to include him in Thursday’s squad. 

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Debrah, Humphreys, Hall; Clark, Croasdale, Byers, Shipley; Tolaj, Curtis, Stockley

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Turner; Kpakio, Fish, Chambers, Bagan; Tanner, J. Colwill, Wintle, R. Colwill, Ashford; Salech

We say: Port Vale 1-3 Cardiff City

Cardiff will be full of confidence after making a positive start to the new campaign, and as one of the strongest teams in League One, we think that the Bluebirds will showcase their quality to claim a relatively comfortable victory in their meeting with newly-promoted Port Vale.

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