Oxford United will welcome Port Vale to the Kassam Stadium this weekend with the the U's aiming to stay top of the table after a sensational season so far as the Vale sit just two points below them.
Both these sides had very underwhelming 2022/23 season with them finishing right next to each other in the table with just two points being the difference. Port Vale were the ones who finished above them in the table with 49 points in total after winning two more games with 13 on the board. They did, however, lose two more games, score one less goal and let in 17 more goals too.
The two are heading into a similar situation right now with Vale two points adrift of Oxford at the top of the table with one loss, one draw and three wins from the first five games.
The club have also managed to get into the third round of the EFL Cup after defeating Crewe Alexandra in a very poor game. The game finished 0-0 after the end of regular time and then only two penalties would be scored as Vale bagged two of theirs while Crewe failed to score any.
This also kept up Vale's unbeaten run after the stunning 7-0 loss to Barnsley. Vale have beat Fleetwood Town in the EFL Cup first round before defeating Reading and Charlton Athletic alongside a draw with Blackpool. They also secured a 1-0 win at home to Carlisle United last weekend.
Oxford have also gone on a great unbeaten run with them defeating Carlisle 1-0 too before a victory away to Derby County and Barnsley, as the U's beat Charlton back at home in the last outing. However, Oxford were knocked out of the EFL Cup to Bristol City in the first round after a stunning 5-1 loss, so they had no game during the week.