Port Vale vs Cardiff Prediction: Here’s to you, Callum Robinson

Cardiff City travel to Vale Park on Thursday evening (19:00, Sky Sports Football) to take on Port Vale. The Bluebirds are looking to build on a successful start to their League 1 campaign, after beating Peterborough 2-1 on the opening day.

Vale’s opener saw the same scoreline, but it was Rotherham who walked out as 2-1 winners in their curtain-raiser. Two divisions separated these sides last season and this clash sees both teams acclimatising to a new league. Cardiff dropped out of the Championship in 24th place while Port Vale were promoted automatically after finishing second in League 2.

Here are my Port Vale vs Cardiff City predictions ahead of this Thursday night clash.

Team News

Back-up goalkeeper Marko Marosi donned the gloves for the Valiants’ first League 1 outing of the season. Ex-Manchester United stopper Ben Amos sidelined with a muscle injury that is expected to keep him out on Thursday night.

Jaheim Headley is suspended after his sending off against Rotherham last weekend. Further limiting the full back options, right-sided Jordan Gabriel is also injured. Captain Ben Garrity is a doubt after a setback kept him out of the opening-day side. The midfielder missed the tail-end of last season with a muscle injury.

Football Odds

Barry-Murphy omitted Scotland international David Turnbull as his Cardiff side beat Peterborough on the opening day. He is expected to be back in contention on Thursday, having missed out due to a disciplinary issue in training. 

Captain Calum Chambers didn’t play at the weekend through suspension but is expected to slot straight back into the side. 

Port Vale vs Cardiff City Odds

Port Vale are priced at 6/4, reflecting their new status in this league. Cardiff are coming in at 11/8 as the side who have just dropped out of the Championship. The draw is priced at 21/10.

Which team to score - Only Cardiff City @ 16/5

Despite suffering relegation in 24th place last season, defence was far from Cardiff’s biggest failing. They conceded 15 less goals than Plymouth Argyle in 23rd and also shipped less than Portsmouth, all the way up in 16th.

Meanwhile, five League 1 teams scored more goals than Port Vale last term. Lorent Tolaj, purchased from Aldershot Town last summer, was their top scorer last season with 14 goals. It remains to be seen how much danger he poses in League 1. Ben Waine comes into the Port Vale forward line, but he has not been prolific since his A-League days. 

Meanwhile, Calum Chambers, Joel Bagan and Will Fish add Championship experience and steel alongside a choice of two Wales age group internationals  in Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor. A well-balanced back four that I think will have enough to keep the hosts out.

Callum Robinson to score anytime @ 2/1

Twenty-three-year-old Danish forward Yousef Salech started Cardiff’s first game of the season, looking to build on an impressive eight Championship goals in 20 appearances last term. He may well start again, but I am going for an old reliable. The man who replaced him on 77 minutes against Posh: Callum Robinson.

There was talk of the ex-Premier League frontman leaving this summer. But that seems to have abated for now. Still only 30 and coming off his best-ever league goals return, I can see Robinson having a decisive impact here.

I have opted for anytime just because I think Salech is likely to start. But if the goal doesn’t come for the Dane, I reckon Robinson is employed in his stead.

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