Port Vale vs Colchester Prediction & Match Preview

Peter Green - January 10, 2019

Port Vale vs Colchester
England – League Two
Date: Saturday, 12^th January 2019
Kick-off at 15.00 UK/ 16.00 CET
Venue: Vale Park (Stoke on Trent).

Colchester took a hit in their form and league standing in the climactic stages of 2018 and will be looking to bounce back against Port Vale, despite being on the road. The League Two playoff-mix is a mini competition on its own, and fans are completely tuned into it.

Just two points separate the five teams vying for the available four spots, and every match hereon is a virtual final for the teams involved. There’s not much scope for a relaxed game.

The U’s will try to improve their goal difference which will surely come into play later, and as of now, they are just below the cut because of their inferior goal difference to Exeter and Forest Green.

Port Vale vs Colchester Head-to-head (h2h)

• John McGreal’s men won the reverse fixture, which took place at the beginning of this season.
• In four of the last six h2h ties, the team from Essex scored exactly two goals.
• Only two of the last six head-to-head fixtures at this venue had over 2.5 match goals.
• Seven of the last ten wins in matches where these teams faced off, were in the name of Colchester.

Port Vale vs Colchester Prediction

The U’s will be traveling to Burslem with the confidence of having won the first leg of their league match. The scoreline was 2-0 then, in the favor of hosts. This time around too John McGreal’s men will be hoping and targeting the same score.

The reason I back this score is, Colchester needs this win at any cost. More than that, they need to improve their goal difference. They cannot miss out on the opportunity to get into the playoff mix after their hard work all season long. Here, they are pitted against a lower-tier side, whom they have beaten dominantly just a few months back.

But the sense of belief cannot be sky high as at this venue, the Valiants have the better h2h record. The safe and rational score to target would be a 0-2 win for the guests, which gives them success in both of their objectives with minimal risk.

Trying for a higher score has the chance to backfire. And therefore, I believe backing the 0-2 score has good value.

The team will not leave things to get competitive and ugly and will break the defense in the first half itself. A 0-1 score at halftime seems ideal, and this would give them the chance to improve upon the score on counters, late into the game.

Port Vale vs Colchester Betting Tips

• Half Time Correct Score: 0-1, Colchester @ 4.33 (10/3)

• Correct Score: 0-2, Colchester @ 10.00 (9/1).