Swindon Town will be taking on Port Vale on Thursday having claimed a 2-1 lead ahead of the second leg of the League Two playoff semi-final.
Whoever succeeds in Staffordshire will set up a Wembley showdown with either Northampton Town or Mansfield Town on May 28.
Despite only earning their playoff spot on the final day of the season, there was no doubt that Swindon had all the momentum ahead of the two semi-final ties.
Ben Garner had seen his side record four successive wins to secure a top-seven spot, scoring 10 goals and conceded just twice during that quartet of fixtures.
Swindon continued that form in the first leg at the County Ground on Sunday, two goals from Harry McKirdy leaving his side in total control of the tie with a quarter of the contest remaining.
However, James Wilson’s effort seven minutes from time has the potential to turn the tie around in Port Vale’s favour, both clubs aware that this has theoretically become a 50-50 tie.
That could be desputed by a Swindon side who have recently produced the far better form at the time when Port Vale have suffered successive home defeats to Bristol Rovers and Newport County respectively.
However, Port Vale denied Exeter City the League Two title on the final day of the season, and that result has given them the extra belief required to remain on course for promotion.
Darrell Calrke’s side will be wary of Swindon’s spectacular away return during the regular season, a total of 43 points from 23 matches the best effort by as many as four points.
One of their 13 victories came in the corresponding fixture back in January, Swindon caliming a 3-1 victory at Vale Park having been helped by the first-half dismissal of home goalkeeper Lucas Covolan.
Port Vale vs Swindon Town head to head
The two teams have previously met on 43 occasions across all competitions, where Swindon have claimed 22 victories while Vale have won 12, and they have drawn in nine. Vale have scored 44 goals and conceded 72. In their last five meetings, Vale have won twice while Swindon have won three.
Port Vale 2-0 Swindon Town 29/12/19
Swindon Town 3-0 Port Vale 25/01/20
Swindon Town 1-2 Port Vale 11/09/21
Port Vale 1-3 Swindon Town 15/01/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale 15/05/22
Port Vale latest home form
Port Vale have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Newport County in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded seven.
Port Vale 0-0 Exeter City 22/03/22
Port Vale 2-0 Sutton United 26/03/22
Port Vale 3-2 Oldham Athletic 09/04/22
Port Vale 1-3 Bristol Rovers 18/04/22
Port Vale 1-2 Newport County 02/05/22
Port Vale latest away form
Port Vale have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having lost two of their three most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Swindon Town in their last away game in the league playoffs. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded four.
Salford City 0-1 Port Vale 05/04/22
Hartlepool United 0-1 Port Vale 15/04/22
Walall 2-0 Port Vale 23/04/22
Exeter City 0-1 Port Vale 07/05/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale 15/05/22
Swindon Town latest home form
Swindon have recently been on a good run of form at home, having won each of their three most recent matches. Their last home defeat came on April 18 when they lost 2-1 to Leyton Orient in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded six.
Swindon Town 0-1 Newport County 09/04/22
Swindon Town 1-2 Leyton Orient 18/04/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Forest Green Rovers 26/04/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Barrow 30/04/22
Swindon Town 2-1 Port Vale 15/05/22
Swindon Town latest away form
Swindon Town have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. Their last away defeat came 3-1 against Crawley Town on March 19 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded four.
Crawley Town 3-1 Swindon Town 19/03/22
Rochdale 0-0 Swindon Town 02/04/22
Harrogate Town 1-4 Swindon Town 15/04/22
Hartlepool United 0-3 Swindon Town 23/04/22
Walsall 0-3 Swindon Town 07/05/22
Port Vale news
Clarke could make changes to his starting XI, with Jamie Proctor in line to return in attack in place of Ryan Edmondson, while Jake Taylor is also in contention
Chris Hussey could make his return at left-back or left wing-back if he shakes off the injury which kept him out of the first leg.
Swindon Town news
Head coach Ben Garner may be prepared to stick with his previous Swindon starting XI, with Harry McKirdy, Josh Davison and Louie Barry all set to feature in the starting lineup.
Akinwale Odimayo is an option to come in at right-back on Thursday, with Mandela Egbo potentially dropping down to the substitutes’ bench.
Prediction and Odds
Port Vale will fancy their chances of turning the tie around in their favour to earn a spot in the final,now playing at home.
However, we cannot disregard Swindon’s recent winning streak, and as they had established the first-leg lead, we feel they have the confidence to move closer to promotion.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 1.98
Probable outcomes
Port Vale 0-1 Swindon Town
Port Vale 0-2 Swindon Town
Port Vale 1-2 Swindon Town
Port Vale 1-1 Swindon Town
Port Vale 2-2 Swindon Town
