Port Vale vs Carlisle Predictions

When Port Vale host Carlisle at Vale Park on Saturday afternoon, they’ll be looking to register a fourth straight win in all competitions. In contrast, the visitors will be hoping to bounce back after losing to Morecambe in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening.

Port Vale come into this fixture in hot form, as they’ve won each of their last three. Not only are Vale coming off the back of three consecutive victories, but they’ve now gone six games (in all competitions) without tasting defeat. Furthermore, Saturday’s hosts have avoided defeat in each of their last nine at home, while they’ve not been beaten at home in League 2, winning four and drawing four.

It’s fair to say that Port Vale, who are the proud owners of League 2’s only unbeaten home record, are not easy to face own their own patch. John Askey’s men haven’t been overly exciting in the final third at Vale Park, as they’ve scored a modest average of 1.38, but they’ve done an excellent job of stopping teams, conceding an average of just 0.75. They’ve also kept three clean sheets and have conceded more than once on just one occasion.

In contrast, Carlisle have struggled on the road. Saturday’s visitors approach this game having won only two of their travelling fixtures. They’ve lost five of the other six, conceding 14 goals and scoring eight in the process.

Making their presence felt in the final third away from home hasn’t been easy for Carlisle, who’ve failed to score on three occasions and who’ve scored more than once in just two out of eight. Moreover, the visitors have scored just one goal in their last 270 minutes of travelling League 2 football.

In the betting, ‘Port Vale to Win & Under 3.5 Goals’ makes lots of appeal. The hosts have been very solid at home, so much so that they look a good bet to keep a visiting side that has been struggling for goals away from home of late at bay. Moreover, the defensive antics of Carlisle, who’ve kept zero clean sheets on the road and who’ve shipped two or more in three of their last five away, suggest that Askey’s men can profit offensively.

‘Correct Score’ players should try a 2-0 win for the hosts. Vale haven’t always run wild offensively, and they’re unlikely to do so in this fixture, but they’re yet to be shutout at home, while the fact that Carlisle, who’ve shipped twice against worse teams than Vale, have struggled to keep teams from scoring of late points towards a solid home side notching a couple of goals.