Port Vale vs Bristol City Prediction: Muddy pitch won’t rescue Vale

Bristol City will take a pause from the push for the Premier League and turn their attention to the FA Cup this weekend as they travel to face Port Vale (15:00 GMT).

The Valiants sit bottom of League 1 and look desinted for the drop having only amassed 22 points in the third tier this term. Below you can find my Port Vale vs Bristol City predictions featuring team news and more. 

Team News

Port Vale announced the signing of former Norwich City winger Onel Hernandez this week, and he could play some part having got ten minutes off the bench against Stockport County in the Vertu Trophy. 

That game ended in a 4-0 defeat so Jon Brady is expected to revert to the XI that drew 2-2 with Burton Albion last weekend. Jayden Stockley will lead the line, George Hall will feature in midfield and Cameron Humphreys should play at centre-back. 

Bristol City may make a few changes from the team that beat Hull last time out with Gerhard Struber likely to prioritise the play-off push. Sinclair Armstrong may lead the line, with January arrival Delano Burgzorg likely to be brought into the final third, while Mark Sykes and Joe Williams should come into midfield. 

Noah Eile may get a start in defence, while goalkeeper Joe Lumley should get a start in between the sticks. 

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

Port Vale vs Bristol City Odds

Port Vale are 3/1 to win this one, while Bristol City are the 4/5 favourites to take all three points. A draw after 90 minutes is 12/5, over 2.5 goals is 5/6 and BTTS is 8/11.

Emil Riis Jakobsen is the favourite to score first at 4/1, while Sinclair Armstrong is 9/2.

Bristol City to win with -1 handicap @ 9/4

The dreadful pitch at Vale Park will play a big impact in this tie, but I just can’t see Port Vale getting anything. They look as poor as their pitch right now, have lost 16 of 28 league matches this term and were hammered 4-0 on home soil by Stockport in the Vertu Trophy to boot. 

Bristol City are a class above and are on the fringes of the Championship play-offs, so even with a few changes I think we should see a dominant and impressive away win from the Robins. They looked lethal in the win over Hull and I’d expect them to cruise past the struggling Valiants.

Sinclair Armstrong to score two or more goals @ 10/1

I really like Armstrong as a forward and I think he should be given a start here and bully this Vale backline. The League 1 strugglers have conceded six goals in their last two outings and you have to presume Bristol City will create chances and score goals at will.

Riis usually leads the line but I expect the former Preston forward to be rested here, opening the door for Armstrong to take centre stage. He’s only scored three Championship goals this term but has found himself in and out of the team, and I feel this could be the perfect opposition for him to rack up the goals at a decent price. 

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