Port Vale will look to get back to winning ways this afternoon as Carlisle United make the long trip south to Burslem, and we've compiled all of the key information ahead of the Sky Bet League Two fixture, below.
Fixture: Port Vale vs Carlisle United
Competition: Sky Bet League Two
Date: Saturday 26th January 2019
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Venue: Vale Park
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Port Vale
Form: DDDLLDWLWL
Top Scorer: Tom Pope (11 goals)
Having been knocked out of the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night, Neil Aspin's side will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome Carlisle United to Vale Park this afternoon.
Mark Harris could be in line to make his Port Vale debut as Tom Pope is expected to miss out through injury once again. The Welsh forward signed during the week and is looking to make an instant impact in this Vale side be that in the starting eleven or off the bench.
Vale will also be boosted by the return of James Gibbons who has now played out his suspension, as well as Adam Crookes who is back available to Aspin having impressed on his debut last weekend.
Carlisle United
Form: LLWWWWWWLW
Top Scorer: Jamie Devitt/Hallam Hope (9 goals)
The Cumbrians have been in scintillating of late having won seven of their last 10 games in the league, including a run of six straight wins; victories over Mansfield Town and a 6-0 drubbing of Oldham Athletic the highlight.
Following their impressive run of form, this afternoon's opponents now sit in fourth place in League Two having played out 15 wins, three draws and 11 losses.
Steven Pressley will be without the services of Macauley Gillesphey after the defender was ruled out for up to two months following surgery on his knee. Gary Liddle is also expected to miss out through injury.
The new Carlisle boss has promised to give chances to fringe players in the coming weeks, with likes of Mike Jones and George Glendon set to feature again.
One to watch: Hallam Hope
Hope is a 24-year-old forward who wears the number nine for the Cumbrians. He originally began his career at Everton where he signed his first professional contract in 2013.
In search of first team football, Hope enjoyed a number of loan spells during his tenure with the Toffees. First up was Northampton Town, before brief stays with Bury and Sheffield United.
Eventually leaving Everton in 2015, Hope signed permanently for Bury in 2015 where he would stay until 2017, eventually signing for Carlisle.
Hope has played a pivotal role in the Cumbrians season so far, netting nine times as well as providing a further seven assists.
Talk
Neil Aspin: "It's going to be a difficult game because Carlisle are doing well; they've won seven of their last ten games. But we can't pick and choose who we're going to play, we've got to improve our own form.
"We have to make sure we defend better than we have done in the home games because we need to be solid to try and win the game."
Steven Pressley: “It’s about us going there with a positive mindset and, for me, these are the games we have to win if we’re serious about what we’re challenging for.
“We’re under no illusion that it’s a difficult game but, and I keep stressing this, we will not be satisfied with a draw at Port Vale this weekend, we’re going there to win."
Coverage
iFollow 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.