Three Months in; what are the season’s expectations for Port Vale?
We have seen Port Vale start the new League Two season well, and that has led to some people changing their expectations of the finishing position this club can achieve. Things appear to be on the up at Port Vale, but what are the realistic options for where they will finish come the end of the season.
By a Port Vale supporter
One group that has certainly been impressed so far is the bookmakers, who have shortened the odds on Port Vale to win League Two, and to be promoted into League One by any means. If their form between now and Christmas resembles something similar to what we have seen recently, their odds on promotion will shorten further. As of October 22, the latest football odds had Port Vale at just 21/10 to be promoted and 17/2 to win League Two. That puts them as second-favourites to win the league and the third shortest team in the betting for promotion.
Can this be achieved, or will Port Vale fall down the table a little and miss out on moving up a division?
Promotion Hopes
The more optimistic fans out there will be looking at promotion as the main aim now. Recent home wins against good teams such as Harrogate, Leyton Orient, Barrow and Colchester United have left home fans leaving Vale Park with something to smile about. It is that home form that will prove to be key in any promotion push, winning games at home is vital.
FULL TIME
Goals from Dennis Politic, Mal Benning and an Own goal secure the Valiants all three points here at Vale Park
UTV. ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/TiCBLjUA0o
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) October 16, 2021
The Vale have now found their feet, having won their last five at home. Prior to that, they lost one and drew two. Keep up the form we are currently seeing, typified in their strong win over Harrogate, and this is certainly going to be a positive moving forward.
A top-half finish
Those not so confident will be aiming for a top-half finish this season, with the possibility that this is good enough to get into the play-offs. Obviously, teams from fourth to seventh qualify for the play-offs, a passage that saw Morecambe promoted to League One last season.
Behind that, the top half technically runs down to 12th position, so there are spots where Port Vale could finish in the top half but wouldn’t get in the play-offs and have a shot at promotion. If they are unable to continue their recent home form and drop back to the kind of home form we saw early in the season, then that could lead to this type of finish.
Fading to mid-table
It is a sign of how good the start has been for Vale to say that dropping down and fading into mid-table is their worst-case scenario right now. Losing high scoring games, such as the 4-3 defeat to Sutton and the 3-2 defeat to Rochdale may be entertaining but, ultimately, result in nothing.
These are the games that can hurt, not only because of the lack of points but because they knock the confidence of the players. This hasn’t happened yet, but if we see it with any kind of regularity, that is the sort of trigger that could mean a mid-table finish after a good start.