Our prediction for this League 1 match:
Oxford United aim to extend their unbeaten run in the League One to five games when they face Port Vale in the round 18. The Yellows will try to move closer to the playoffs berth, but this game will be anything but a walk in the park for the home side. Kyle Joseph limped off with injury in a 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town, with James Henry pushing for a start.
The Valiants, on the other hand, have been having their ups and downs of late. Port Vale, though, are undefeated in the previous three away games in the League One, and they are surely capable of holding Oxford to a draw at Kassam Stadium. There are no fresh injury worries in the away team ahead of Saturday’s clash. William Forrester should recover in time to face the Yellows.
Highlighted Player (Yanic Wildschut):
Yanic-Sonny Wildschut is a Dutch football player who was born in Amsterdam on 1 November, 1991. He was part of Ajax academy during his youth career and he made his senior debut for Zwolle in the Jupiler League. After playing 33 matches for Zwolle, the pacey winger joined VVV-Venlo on 29 June, 2011 and in 2013 he moved to Heerenveen.
He was soon sent on loan to ADO Den Haag and after making seven appearances for the club, he joined English side Middlesbrough on 1 September, 2014. Wildschut scored his first goal for the Boro in a 3-0 victory over Rotherham on 1 November, 2014. However, he played just 12 games for Middlesbrough in the Championship.
On 2 October, 2015 he was sent on loan to Wigan Athletic and three months later he signed a permanent deal with the Latics. You should have in mind that Yanic has 10 caps for Netherlands U21 team. Wildschut is a winger, but he is capable of playing as a centre forward as well.
Highlighted Team (Port Vale):
Nicknamed the Valiants, Port Vale are a professional club that compete in the League Two. Port Vale welcome their rivals at Vale Park, and they wear white and black kit when playing in front of home fans. Yellow, on the other hand, is the dominant colour of their away kit.
The Valiants’ home ground, which was built in 1950, can hold up to 49,768 people. Championship side Stoke City are seen as one of the club’s fiercest rivals, but their rivalry is pretty healthy. The two teams first met on December 2, 1882, with the Potters emerging triumphant (1-0).
The Valiants maintain a rivalry with fellow League 2 club Crewe Alexandra as well. Speaking of the club’s titles, it has to be noted that Port Vale have won Football League Trophy on two occasions (1993, 2001). A 9-1 win over Chesterfield from September 24, 1932 is the club’s biggest triumph.