Port Vale's difficult start to the League Two season continued with a 1-0 defeat away to Salford City on September 5. The result leaves the Valiants rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points from their opening five matches, a winless run that now matches a club record last seen in the 1967-68 season.
The EFL's pre-match statistics, provided by Opta, suggested a tough task for Salford City. They had lost their last three league meetings with Port Vale and had never scored more than once in any of their eight EFL clashes. However, the match itself saw Salford secure a narrow 1-0 victory. The result extended Port Vale's concerning start, with the club now having scored only two goals while conceding seven across the campaign.
This defeat means Darren Moore's side are ten points behind early leaders Bristol Rovers. The club's current form reads LLDDL, and they sit 24th in the standings. The search for a first win of the season now turns to their next fixture at Vale Park.
Opta data highlighted the rarity of Port Vale's current predicament. The club could fail to win any of its first five games of a fourth-tier season for the first time since 1967-68. That historical parallel shows the scale of the challenge facing the squad and management. The statistics also showed a recent positive trend against Salford, with Port Vale having won their last two league visits to the Peninsula Stadium while keeping a clean sheet on both occasions.
That pattern was broken on Saturday. The loss adds immediate pressure ahead of an important home game.
The immediate focus shifts to Vale Park, where Port Vale will host Exeter City on September 12. Exeter currently occupy 16th place in the table, presenting another opportunity for Darren Moore's team to get their season moving. Ending this winless streak at home is now an urgent priority for the players and staff.
Preparations for that match will be intense. The manager will need to find a solution to the team's lack of goals, having seen his side shut out in their latest outing. A detailed look at the squad's composition and recent performances is available in our stats section. Port Vale's next match is at home to Exeter City on September 12.
