Port Vale prepare to host Crewe Alexandra in a League Two derby on Saturday, 29th August 2026, with the visitors arriving in second place while Vale seek their first league win. The Valiants sit 20th in the table with just one point from their opening two matches, having scored once and conceded three, a record that leaves them five points behind early leaders Barnet.
How have Port Vale started the season?
Port Vale's league campaign began with a 2-0 defeat away at Oldham Athletic. They followed that with a 1-1 home draw against Tranmere Rovers, which provided their solitary point so far. Their form across all competitions has been mixed, including a 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup. However, they recorded friendly victories over Blackpool and Real Murcia in the build-up to the season. According to data reported by www.google.com, Vale have not lost two of their opening three fourth-tier matches since the 2017-18 season, adding pressure to avoid defeat against Crewe.
What is Crewe Alexandra's current form?
Crewe Alexandra have made a perfect start to their League Two season, winning both of their opening matches. They beat Northampton Town 1-0 and followed that with a 0-1 away victory at Crawley Town. This form has propelled them to second in the standings, one of only two sides to win their first two games this term. They also won their opening three matches last season, a feat they had not managed since 1994-95 prior to that. Their only recent setback was a 3-2 League Cup defeat to Barnsley, though they had previously beaten Accrington Stanley in that competition.
What is the historical head-to-head record?
The recent history of this fixture heavily favours Port Vale. They are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Crewe Alexandra across all competitions, securing six wins and three draws. In the last seven of those games, Vale have kept an impressive six clean sheets. The most recent League Two encounter, on 29th March 2025, ended in a 1-0 away win for Vale. Before that, the sides drew 1-1 at Vale Park on 25th November 2024. A longer-term view shows Crewe have won just five of their 31 away league games at Vale Park between 1892 and 2012, though they have won three of the last six such trips.
What does this mean for Port Vale's next steps?
Saturday's derby represents a significant opportunity for Port Vale to kick-start their season against a local rival. A positive result could provide a platform to climb from their current lowly position. The team's immediate focus will be on tightening a defence that has conceded three goals in two games while finding more potency in attack. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page. Managing the psychological edge of a long unbeaten run against Crewe, while addressing early-season form, is the immediate task for the Vale squad as they look to build momentum.
