Harrogate Town will be welcoming Port Vale to the Envirovent Stadium on New Year’s Day, with both teams chasing for the playoff places.
The hosts have been out of action since December 21 due to recent Covid-19 outbreaks, while this will be Port Vale’s first action since December 11 following numerous postponement in the fourth division.
Harrogate’s 2-1 victory at Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Trophy on December 21 was their last outing, after seeing their fixtures against Bradford City and Mansfield Town postponed due to Covid-19 over the past week.
However, they have seen their fortunes in League being different in the recent weeks, with three consecutive defeats against Forest Green Rovers, Northampton Town and Sutton United experienced prior to that.
That has seen them slip to 11th in the table ahead of Saturday’s return to action, with four points between them and Swindon Town in the playoff places.
That poor run of form has seen them win just two of their last 11 league outings, having won just six of their first 11 in an impressive start to the season.
Visitors Port Vale have retained their playoff position despite having seen their last three games postponed due to Covid-19.
Even before the cancellations, Port Vale saw their standards and form drop in the weeks leading up to the virus outbreaks, after winning just two of their last six League Two fixtures.
Darrell Clarke’s side’s most recent match came at Newport County three weeks ago, where they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Rodney Parade.
Ben Garrity’s goal in the first half had given Port Vale the lead in the game until the 69th minute, before two goals were scored in a space of just seven minutes, as well as Daniel Jones’ late red card, which saw the game turn around.
Harrogate Town vs Port Vale head to head
The two English outfits have previously met on just three occasions in the League Two, where Port Vale have taken two victories and they have drawn in one. Port Vale have scored 4 goals without conceding. The two victories have come in a 2-0 scoreline away and home.
Port Vale 0-0 Harrogate Town 26/09/20
Harrogate Town 0-2 Port Vale 05/04/21
Port Vale 2-0 Harrogate Town 18/09/21
Harrogate Town latest home form
Harrogate have most recently had a poor run of form at home, as they have won just one of their last five matches, and they have lost in their three most recent in the League Two. The only victory came 2-1 against Wrexham in the FA Cup on November 6.
Harrogate Town 0-1 Bristol Rovers 30/10/21
Harrogate Town 2-1 Wrexham 06/11/21
Harrogate Town 0-2 Salford City 20/11/21
Harrogate Town 1-4 Forest Green Rovers 07/12/21
Harrogate Town 1-2 Northampton Town 11/12/21
Harrogate Town latest away form
Harrogate have recently had a relatively good form on the road, as they have lost just one of their last six away matches, with that loss coming 1-0 to Sutton United. They have won three of their last five games, including a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Carlisle United 0-2 Harrogate Town 23/11/21
Swindon Town 1-1 Harrogate Town 27/11/21
Portsmouth 1-2 Harrogate Town 04/12/21
Sutton United 1-0 Harrogate Town 18/12/21
Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Harrogate Town 21/12/21
Port Vale latest home form
Port Vale have recently been on good form at home, as they have lost just one of their five most recent matches, with the loss coming 1-0 to Walsall. They have recently won 5-0 over Liverpool U21 in the EFL Trophy and 5-1 over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
Port Vale 5-1 Accrington Stanley 06/11/21
Port Vale 5-0 Liverpool U21 09/11/21
Port Vale 1-1 Bradford City 13/11/21
Port Vale 0-1 Walsall 23/11/21
Port Vale 2-0 Hartlepool United 27/11/21
Port Vale latest away form
The Valiants have shown a less impressive performance awaw from home. They lost their most recent 2-1 to Newport County, having also recently losing to Rotherham United through penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw in the EFL Trophy on November 30. They have won two of their five most recent.
Oldham Athletic 3-2 Port Vale 20/11/21
Rotherham United (P)1-1 Port Vale 30/11/21
Burton Albion 1-2 Port Vale 04/12/21
Bristol Rovers 1-2 Port Vale 07/12/21
Newport County 2-1 Port Vale 11/12/21
Harrogate Town news
Aaron Martin remain sidelined, and though Rory McArdle should make a return from injury, Simon Power has joined the list of absentees due to a quad injury.
Long-term absentee William Smith returned to training recently, but he will have to wait for a return to the squad at the moment.
Port Vale news
As for Port Vale, they are expecting a number of players to make a return on Saturday, with no players currently suffering from Covid-19 anymore.
Dan Jones will finally serve the first of his three-game suspension, which could let Ryan Johnson deputise in the three-man defence for the Saturday’s game.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams are heading into the match struggling for good results in the league, and they will each want the three points.
Port Vale have previously prevailed over their opponents in their last two meetings, but that could be different here and we see the game ending in a draw.
Odds: 1 2.35 X 3.05 2 2.21
Probable outcomes
Harrogate Town 0-0 Port Vale
Harrogate Town 1-1 Port Vale
Harrogate Town 2-2 Port Vale
Harrogate Town 1-0 Port Vale
Harrogate Town 0-1 Port Vale
