Football – England – League One
Saturday 3rd May 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Peterborough United will be looking to round their season off with a third win on the trot when they host mid-table Port Vale at London Road this Saturday in this, their last home game of the regular season.
Peterborough recorded back-to-back wins over Carlisle United 4-1 and Shrewsbury Town 4-2 away to book their play-off place and they will now be chasing a fifth consecutive home win to send their fans home happy and to continue their momentum into the play-off stages. Wins over Colchester United, Gillingham, Coventry City and Carlisle United will have been very pleasing for manager Darren Ferguson who will be desperate to gain promotion with his side a second time around back into the Championship.
Posh’s overall home record stands at 14-2-6 34/21 and they’ve kept three clean sheets from their last four home matches which bodes well for today against Vale’s striker Tom Pope. In fact, Peterborough have kept a total of ten clean sheets so far this season and with the likes of prolific striker Assombalonga (23 goals) along with Ajose and Rowe (7 goals apiece) in support, Posh carry a potent attacking threat.
Visitors Port Vale finished in a creditable mid-table position in their first season back in League One and whilst they missed out on a play-off place this term, if they can keep hold of their leading goalscorer Pope (12 goals), then they could be challenging for a play-off berth this time next season.
Port Vale have been pretty steady all season at their Vale Park ground but it’s been their away form that has let them down and prevented them from making an impact upon the top six. Their overall away record stands at 5-3-14 24/43 and they possess the worst away record in the top half of League One.
The visitors go into this match looking to prevent a third consecutive defeat following losses against Rotherham United and Sheffield United but as they haven’t recorded an away win since 1st December last year when they beat Walsall 2-0 (that’s twelve matches folks), it could be a long afternoon for them at London Road this afternoon.
Peterborough are on a high at home right now and they should be able to deal with a Vale side who haven’t travelled very well all season here quite comfortably – I’ll back a home win here, perhaps Posh winning 2-1.
Pick: Peterborough United straight win @ 1.73 Paddy Power
