Round two of the 2025-26 EFL Trophy group-stage matches sees League Two outfit Accrington Stanley entertain the challenge of Port Vale at The Wham Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The home side will be aiming to bounce back from a penalty-shootout defeat to Fleetwood on the opening matchday, while the away side look to make it two wins from two after downing the Leeds Under-21s to get things underway.
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Accrington Stanley vs Port Vale prediction: Third straight defeat for Accrington
Key stats
- Accrington Stanley have only managed one shutout in their last six matches across all competitions.
- Tuesday's hosts have been beaten four times during that span, with their two victories coming in consecutive matches against Colchester and MK Dons.
- Each of Port Vale's last five outings has yielded fewer than five bookings.
Correct score prediction: Accrington Stanley 1-2 Port Vale
Port Vale have drawn blanks in two of their last three matches, but a trip to Accrington provides the League One outfit with an opportunity to rediscover their touch in front of goal.
We are backing the visitors to just about do enough to come away with maximum points when all is said and done.
Pre-match analysis: Odds not available at the moment
- HOME: N/A
- DRAW: N/A
- AWAY: N/A
No odds are available for this fixture at the time of writing, but they are expected to be updated once officially released.
Most recent H2Hs: One win in five for hosts
Port Vale claimed four points from a possible six against Accrington Stanley last season en route to securing promotion to League One as League Two runners-up behind Doncaster.
Before that, the teams last met in the 2022-23 League Two campaign when Accrington played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg before running out 3-0 winners in the second meeting for their only triumph in five editions of this fixture.
England League 2 01/02/25
Port Vale
Accrington Stanley
England League 2 21/09/24
Accrington Stanley
Port Vale
England League 1 07/04/23
Accrington Stanley
Port Vale
England League 1 07/02/23
Port Vale
Accrington Stanley
England League 1 17/12/22
Port Vale
Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley preview: Attacking woes continue in Tyler Walton's absence.
Despite missing Accrington's last two outings through injury, no player has been directly involved in more goals for The ‘Owd Reds than Walton, who has racked up three goals and one assist.
Alongside fellow Englishmen Farrend Rawson and Shaun Walley, Walton is ruled out of Tuesday's contest as Accrington continue their search for attacking inspiration, having scored just once across their last two matches.
Predicted lineup: Wright(GK), Ward, Matthews, Smith, Heath, Bauress, Conneely, Brown, Sinclair, Woods & Caton
Accrington Stanley's last five matches:
- Barnet 2-0 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
- Accrington Stanley 1-3 Walsall (League Two)
- MK Dons 1-2 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
- Accrington Stanley 1-0 Colchester (League Two)
- Cheltenham 1-0 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
Port Vale preview: Defensive trio sidelined
Port Vale will head into Tuesday's contest with several players missing at the back through injury.
Liam Gordon and Mitchell Clark remain out of contention for the away side, who are already without Kyle John.
Predicted lineup: Gauci(GK), Hall, Debrah, Humphreys, Headley, Shipley, Byers, Garrity, Lawrence-Gabriel, Cole & Paton
Port Vale's last five matches:
- Port Vale 0-0 Northampton (League One)
- Barnsley 0-2 Port Vale (League One)
- Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal (EFL Cup)
- Port Vale 2-1 Mansfield (League One)
- Exeter 0-2 Port Vale (League One)
Player to watch – Ruari Paton
Back at Port Vale after a brief loan spell at Dundee United, Ruari Paton has been one of his side's better performers this term with two goals and three assists across all competitions.
With just three minutes of action under his belt over the last two matches, the Irishman is expected to return to the XI for Thursday's game.
Paton served up arguably his best performance of the season in September's EFL Trophy curtain-raiser against the Leeds Under-21s and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.