FA Cup Preview - Port Vale vs Fleetwood

This Friday, Port Vale take on Fleetwood at Port Vale's home ground, Vale Park in Stoke on Trent. The stadium's capacity is 19,052, meaning the atmosphere promises to be electric. 

(Image credits to Port Vale Football Club’s official website) 

The teams have played each other twice in the last year, once in the EFL Trophy and once in League Two, before Port Vale were promoted. Both of these matches resulted in a draw, in November a 3-3 draw and in March a 1-1 draw. From this, it seems like the teams have been on par in recent months, but will they still be in Friday's match?

Despite facing each other multiple times recently, they have never faced one another in an FA Cup match, until now. 

Team news and current form - Port Vale 

In the last couple of weeks, Port Vale sacked their manager, Darren Moore, after 7 defeats within a 10-game period. As of 3 days ago, they have now hired Jon Brady to lead them for the next year and a half. The chief executive of the team wants Brady to bring the team forward and mitigate them from the risk of being relegated.

Port Vale currently sit last in League One, with only 4 wins from 23 games and a 10-point gap to being out of the relegation zone.  

Currently, Port Vale is nursing  5 injuries; the main ones being captain Garrity and winger Gordon, who has a hamstring injury. He last played on September 20th against Mansfield, which resulted in a 2-1 win.  

Team news and current form - Fleetwood 

Fleetwood currently sits in 13th position in League Two, with only two wins since their FA Cup penalty shootout against Luton on the 6th of December. 

They carry one injury into this game, Finley Potter, who is out until mid-March. Fleetwood have 4 players who are returning from injury, and the manager, Pete Wild, said that they could play a part in the game versing Port Vale.

With many players injured and some returning from injury, it's hard to say who will come out on top in this match, but it looks like it's going to be a close one 

Article written by Isa Charlton © Isa Charlton 2026