Port Vale will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions when Notts County make the trip to Vale Park on Saturday afternoon. All of the key information ahead of the clash can be found below...
Fixture: Port Vale vs Notts County
Date: Saturday 3rd November 2018
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Venue: Vale Park
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Referee: Lee Swabey
Port Vale
Form: WDLLWLWWDW
League Position: 14th
Top Scorer: Tom Pope (6 goals)
Last weekend's 1-0 win at home to Bury extended Vale's unbeaten run to four games in all competitions, and Neil Aspin's men will be determined to keep that run going this time out.
Following the disappointing defeat to Lincoln City three weeks ago, the Valiants have responded with three wins and a draw, with four consecutive clean sheets also being recorded.
Manny Oyeleke and Cristian Montano also returned to training this week to provide a welcome boost, but they are unlikely to feature against Notts County. Scott Quigley does remain sidelined, however.
Notts County
Form: LDDWWWLLLL
League Position: 22nd
Top Scorer: Jon Stead (6 goals)
After reaching the play-offs in Sky Bet League Two last season before slipping to a semi-final defeat to Coventry City, Notts County would've been expecting to push at the top end of the division once again.
However, a slow start lead to Kevin Nolan being releived of his duties as manager. Harry Kewell is now the man in the dugout at Meadow Lane, but the Magpies haven't been able to soar above the relegation zone just yet.
They come into this game in 22nd place following a run of three successive defeats in the league, and they will be without Ben Hall due to a groin problem. Richard Duffy could be in contention though following a hamstring injury.
One To Watch: Kane Hemmings
After impressing whilst a part of the youth setup at Tamworth, Hemmings was snapped up by Rangers as a youngster and he continued his development in Scotland. He made a handful of appearances at Ibrox before plying his trade at Cowdenbeath, but he moved back south of the border in the summer of 2014.
He signed for League One side Barnsley and he spent one season at the club, making 29 appearances and scoring five goals before being released. Spells at Dundee United, Oxford United and Mansfield Town then followed before he made the move to Notts County before the start of the 2018/19 Sky Bet League Two campaign.
As a player who possesses plenty of pace and skill, he is a striker that poses a real threat in the final third. His strike in the Magpies' defeat to Swindon Town last time out what his fourth goal of the season, and he will be looking to add to his tally this weekend.
Talk
Neil Aspin: "You look at the size of the club - I've played against them (Notts County) a few times in my career - they're clearly a big club and they'll be looking to get promotion out of the league.
"A new manager has come in, and a new manager will always want to bring in some of his own players but it takes time as well as implementing his own style of play.
"We won't treat Notts County any differently to how we treated Bury - if we don't work as hard as we did against Oldham and Bury, we certainly won't win the game. If we all do our jobs and work hard, then we are capable of getting the result."
Harry Kewell: “Port Vale will be very difficult opposition. They’re unbeaten in their last few games and are coming off a great win against Bury.
“We are aware of their dangers and feel that we know how to stop them, so everything depends on how we play our game.
“We are creating opportunities so we know that goals will come. If it was the other way around and we were struggling to make chances I would be worried.
“Every game is a battle and every game is tough but, if we approach it with hard work and the right attitude, hopefully we can get something.”
Coverage
Follow The Vale will be providing full 90 minute commentary from the match, whilst the Port Vale Twitter and Facebook feeds will be providing live updates for the entirety.
There will also be build-up to the game with the official Snapchat and Instagram accounts: officialpvfc.
Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.