Preview: Port Vale vs Leyton Orient – prediction, team news, lineups KIK BALL

Port Vale‘s search for their first victory of the 2025-26 League One campaign will continue on Saturday when they welcome Leyton Orient to Vale Park.

The hosts are currently 23rd in the League One table, only picking up two points from their first six matches, while Orient are 16th, boasting seven points from their opening six games of the season.

Match preview

Port Vale finished second in League Two last season to earn promotion to the third tier, and they are bidding to consolidate at this level, but it has been a tough start to the campaign.

Indeed, Vale have only managed to collect two points from their first six games, which has left them in 23rd spot, with only Peterborough United (one point) performing worse this term.

Darren Moore‘s side lost 1-0 to Reading in League One last weekend, but they have actually won two of their last three matches, beating Birmingham City 1-0 in the EFL Cup before recording a 4-1 success over Leeds United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy last time out.

The Valiants drew 0-0 with Orient in their last meeting in March 2024, but they have only managed to win one of their last five matches against Saturday’s opponents, which was a 3-2 success in League Two in October 2021.

Orient, meanwhile, finished sixth in League One last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, and they beat Stockport County on penalties in the semi-finals.

However, the O’s suffered heartbreak in the final, losing 1-0 to Charlton Athletic, so the capital outfit are once again competing in the third tier of English football.

Richie Wellens‘ side were also in EFL Trophy action during the week, opening their campaign with a 3-1 success over Peterborough, but they lost 1-0 at home to Northampton Town in the league last weekend.

Orient have won two, drawn one and lost three of their six league matches this season to collect seven points, which has left them in 16th spot in the table.

The O’s have already conceded 10 times in the league this season, which is slightly concerning, but Port Vale have only managed to score twice in their six League One fixtures in 2025-26.

Port Vale League One form:

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Port Vale form (all competitions):

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Leyton Orient League One form:

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Leyton Orient form (all competitions):

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Team News

Port Vale will be without the services of goalkeeper Joe Gauci, who is with the Australia squad preparing for back-to-back international friendly games against New Zealand.

However, Liam Gordon is not with the Guyana squad, while Ben Waine has not been selected by New Zealand, so the pair will both be available for selection this weekend.

Gauci will be replaced between the sticks by Marko Marosi, while there will be changes to the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Leeds United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

As for Orient, Tommy Simkin is with the England Under-21s squad, so he will not be available for selection, while Azeem Abdulai is also out, with the 22-year-old with the Scotland Under-21s squad.

Josh Koroma is not with the Sierra Leone, squad, though, so he will be available for this match.

There will be changes to the side that started against Peterborough in the EFL Trophy, including a recall in the final third of the field for Aaron Connolly, who has scored once in League One this season.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Heneghan, Debrah, Humphreys; Clark, Croasdale, Walters, Byers, Headley; Curtis, Faal

Leyton Orient possible starting lineup:

Cahill; James, Beckles, Happe, Adaramola; Clare, Bakinson; Koroma, Jaiyesimi, O’Neill; Connolly

We say: Port Vale 1-2 Leyton Orient

We are expecting this to be a tight match between two sides that have had their issues this term, but Orient’s quality in the final third of the field should allow them to secure an important three points on Saturday.

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

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