09-18Montevideo City Torque-CiencianoBTTS: Yes@ 1.76✕
Walsall
4-2-3-1
● Confirmed
7
↓70′
Sodje
17
↓85′
Clarke
14
↓17′
Evans
11
↓85′
Smith
15
Moore
6
Sprangler
22
Ahui
25
Skura
4
⚽
Connolly
3
Hancock
1
Ward
Bench (7)
Lewis Simper ↑17′ · Andrew Dallas ↑70′⚽ · Charlie Crew ↑85′ · Albert Adomah ↑85′ · Tom Wooster · Ryan Leak · James Furlong
Coach · Lee Grant
Match Preview
Walsall vs Port Vale Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-09-17 12:06 UTC
Walsall and Port Vale search for consistency at Poundland Bescot Stadium
Walsall look to maintain their resilient defensive start to the campaign as they prepare to host Port Vale this Saturday. The two sides meet at the Poundland Bescot Stadium for this League Two matchday 7 encounter, with both teams eager to establish a foothold in the early season standings.
The defensive wall at the Bescot
Walsall have proven remarkably difficult to break down in the opening weeks of the season. With clean sheets kept in six of their last 10 matches, the side has built a foundation of stability that makes them a frustrating opponent for any visiting attack. This defensive discipline was evident in their recent stalemate against Rochdale on 12 September, and it will be the primary weapon as they look to stifle Port Vale's momentum.
Port Vale seeking a turning point
After a challenging start to their league campaign, Port Vale finally secured their first win of the season against Exeter City on 12 September. Manager Jon Brady has expressed hope that this result will serve as a significant confidence-builder for his squad. He emphasized that the victory is not an endpoint but rather a platform to build upon as they travel to face a well-organized Walsall outfit.
Tactical considerations and team news
While official team sheets are yet to be confirmed, both managers will be looking to balance defensive solidity with the need for more clinical output in the final third. Walsall’s recent run of low-scoring affairs suggests a cautious approach, whereas Port Vale will be looking to see if their breakthrough against Exeter can spark a more consistent attacking rhythm. With no major injury concerns reported for either side, both squads should be at full strength for the weekend.
Historical context of the rivalry
The history between these two clubs in League Two has been closely contested, with results often swinging in either direction. Their most recent meeting on 5 April 2025 saw Port Vale edge out a 3-2 victory, a stark contrast to the tighter, lower-scoring affairs that have characterized other recent encounters. As they prepare to face each other again, both teams will be looking to lean on these past experiences to navigate the tactical challenges of this weekend's clash.
Port Vale
3-5-2
● Confirmed
19
↓61′
Waine
14
↓46′
Lynch
6
Gabriel
10
↓61′
Dempsey
7
↓61′
Byers
8
Garrity
3
Headley
2
↓73′
John
22
Montsma
5
Hall
20
Marosi
Bench (7)
Max Watters ↑46′ · Onel Hernandez ↑61′ · George Hall ↑61′ · Rhys Walters ↑61′ · Jasper Moon ↑73′ · Cameron Humphreys · Keaton Moseley
Coach · Jon Brady
Confirmed by FIFA officials.
All Predictions
What each AI model picked for Walsall vs Port Vale
Every pick each model placed, market by market — with the odds they took.
Model
1X2
O/U
BTTS
AH
GS
CS
DeepSeek
+4.9% ROI
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Nova
+4.3% ROI
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Le Chat
+4.3% ROI
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Nemotron
+2.5% ROI
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ERNIE
+1.7% ROI
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Qwen
+1.6% ROI
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Seed
+1.6% ROI
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Claude
+1.4% ROI
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Gemini
+1.0% ROI
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Kimi
+0.5% ROI
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GLM
-0.6% ROI
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ChatGPT
-0.7% ROI
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Grok
-1.5% ROI
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WizardLM
-2.5% ROI
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Recent Form
Walsall and Port Vale's recent form
Last ten matches each side.
Walsall
3
Wins
5
Draws
2
Losses
10
Scored
12
Conceded
6
Clean sheets
3
BTTS
12 SepLEAWalsall0–0RochdaleD
5 SepLEAExeter City0–0WalsallD
1 SepLEACrewe Alexandra2–2WalsallD
29 AugLEAWalsall3–2Accrington StanleyW
25 AugEFLWalsall0–0Leyton OrientD
22 AugLEAWalsall0–0Grimsby TownD
15 AugLEAGillingham0–3WalsallW
6 AugEFLBristol City0–1WalsallW
21 JulFRIWalsall0–5Aston VillaL
2 MayLEABromley3–1WalsallL
Port Vale
2
Wins
2
Draws
6
Losses
6
Scored
15
Conceded
2
Clean sheets
4
BTTS
12 SepLEAPort Vale1–0Exeter CityW
5 SepLEASalford City1–0Port ValeL
1 SepLEASwindon Town3–1Port ValeL
29 AugLEAPort Vale0–0Crewe AlexandraD
22 AugLEAPort Vale1–1Tranmere RoversD
15 AugLEAOldham Athletic2–0Port ValeL
7 AugEFLWolverhampton Wanderers3–0Port ValeL
2 MayLEAPort Vale0–2Lincoln CityL
28 AprLEAStockport County1–2Port ValeW
25 AprLEAPlymouth Argyle2–1Port ValeL
Head to Head
Walsall vs Port Vale·last 10 meetings
6Walsall wins
1Draws
3Port Vale wins
5 Apr ’25Walsall2 – 3Port ValeLeague Two
7 Dec ’24Port Vale0 – 1WalsallLeague Two
23 Apr ’22Walsall2 – 0Port ValeLeague Two
23 Nov ’21Port Vale0 – 1WalsallLeague Two
23 Jan ’21Port Vale1 – 3WalsallLeague Two
19 Dec ’20Walsall4 – 3Port ValeLeague Two
22 Feb ’20Walsall2 – 2Port ValeLeague Two
7 Dec ’19Port Vale0 – 1WalsallLeague Two
13 Nov ’18Walsall1 – 2Port ValeEFL Trophy Northern Grp. E
