Port Vale and Shrewsbury Town clash in a massive battle down at the bottom end of League One with the home side aiming to jump out of the bottom three on Saturday just as Salop look to get a rare win.
Shrewsbury's poor form at home continued last time out with a loss to Blackpool. It leaves the club down in 20th with just 11 victories on the board after suffering their 20th defeat of the season. They are also coming into this game just six points above the relegation-sitting Vale, meaning a loss here could end up being their worst result of the season.
Shrewsbury also suffered a defeat away to Lincoln City last time out by losing 3-0, although they did get a commendable win away to Reading before that. Jordan Shipley, Tom Bloxham and Tom Bayliss all get goals in the first half of that game in a 3-2 win.
Nevertheless, the only other wins in 2024 have seen Salop defeat fellow strugglers Fleetwood Town at home on New Year's Day, as they also secured a 2-0 victory away to Northampton Town towards the end of January.
Further results in 2024 have seen the club crash out of the FA Cup at the third round stage to League Two's Wrexham and also suffered losses in League One against Wigan Athletic, Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Stevenage. Shrewsbury have otherwise picked up a point against Derby County and Barnsley, which given their spots in the top four, were commendable results at least.
As for Vale, they have a game in hand over Cheltenham Town in the safe spot of League One and are only two points adrift of the Robins too. A win here could move them into the safe zone, should they also see Cheltenham lose to Oxford United, which seems likely.
Vale are on a lengthy winless run right now and have not tasted a victory in 2024 so far after a win against Blackpool at the end of December and they have even managed to lose to fellow relegation-sitting sides Carlisle United and Fleetwood Town during this period. The club also suffered a 3-0 loss away to Derby County last weekend, meaning Vale have now lost eight times in 2024 and drawn the other three games against Stevenage, Fleetwood and Charlton Athletic.
