Port Vale’s 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday has left them looking nervously over their shoulders in the League One table.
Vale are now 16th in the standings, nine points clear of the relegation zone. However, most of the teams below them have at least one game in hand.
While the bookmakers think Darrell Clarke’s side will avoid getting sucked into the battle, the manager will be desperate to see his team pick up points during March.
A quick look at the 22bet sports betting odds for the upcoming game against MK Dons suggests Vale have a golden opportunity to add to their points tally this weekend.
Vale are priced at 10/11 to win against a team that has had a miserable campaign and in serious danger of dropping into League Two.
A victory for Vale on Saturday would ease their worries and give them renewed hope of securing a top half finish this term.
Vale have a tricky test the following weekend as they travel to Lancashire to face an improving Fleetwood Town side.
The Cod Army are unbeaten in their last five league outings and have conceded just once during that run, highlighting their fine recent form.
Vale triumphed 2-1 in the reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the season and will hope to pick up at least a draw this time around.
The standout game next month for many fans will be the home clash with Burton Albion on March 18.
Burton have been struggling at the wrong end of the table for much of the season, but three wins and a draw in five games during February has boosted their survival hopes.
Goals by Ben Garrity and Ellis Harrison secured victory for Vale at Burton earlier in the season and they will be confident of completing the double.
Vale generally have the upper hand in this fixture, winning seven and drawing three of their previous 14 meetings in all competitions.
Clarke’s side will end March with a potentially daunting trip to the south coast to face Portsmouth.
Pompey were tipped my many pundits as one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, but things have not quite gone to plan this season.
Too many draws have hindered their Portsmouth’s hopes and they will need to go on a long winning run to get close to the top six.
However, they won 1-0 at Vale Park earlier in the season and will see their latest meeting as an excellent opportunity to put pressure on the teams above them.
Having dropped into the bottom half of the table, Vale will be eager to arrest their slide by getting some points on the board over the next few weeks.
An eight-point return is not beyond the Staffordshire outfit if they produce their best form and would go a long way to easing any lingering threat of relegation.
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