Port Vale aim for a fourth straight League Two win when they visit promotion-chasing Gillingham on Tuesday night. The Valiants have climbed to 21st place after a perfect October, beating Grimsby Town, Mansfield Town and Chesterfield without conceding a goal.
Their 1-0 victory over Chesterfield last Friday was secured by Onel Hernández's first-half strike. That result means Port Vale have taken 11 points from their opening nine games, a run that includes three wins, two draws and four defeats. They are now 11 points behind league leaders Salford City but have momentum on their side.
The challenge at Priestfield
Gillingham present a much tougher test. They sit sixth in the league table with 16 points, having won four of their last five matches. Their most recent outing was a 4-1 away win at Rotherham on October 10. The Gills have scored 16 goals this season, a stark contrast to Vale's tally of five.
Head-to-head context
Recent history favours the hosts. The sides have met three times since 2017, with Gillingham winning twice and the other game drawn. Gillingham won 1-0 at Vale Park last season in May 2025, and also recorded a 1-0 home victory in November 2024. Their last meeting at Priestfield in League One back in February 2017 ended 1-1.
Team news and lineup
Port Vale's last starting XI against Chesterfield featured Maroši in goal, with Humphreys, Moon and Hall in defence. Kyle Dempsey, who scored the winner against Grimsby, partnered Hall and Garrity in midfield, with Hernández and Headley supporting striker Watters. The club reports no new injury concerns, with the same squad expected to be available for selection.
Gillingham's last lineup included Wright in goal and a defence marshalled by Smith and Beckles. Their attack is led by Ronan Hale, who has been among the goals this season. Midfielder McKenzie is a doubt after missing training, but forward Josh Andrews is fit and pushing for a start. The match kicks off at 20:00 at Priestfield Stadium.
Port Vale's recent defensive solidity, with three clean sheets in a row, will be key against a high-scoring Gills side. The next fixture after this is another key league encounter, with Vale hosting Bradford City at the weekend.
