(H)
Derby County
Martyn Hathaway
Port Vale FC
John Holden
League Round 18
Head To Head Results
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON |  | - |  | - |  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 0 | - | 0 | - | 1 |
| 5 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 2 | - (n) | 1 | | | 0 | - | 0 | - | 2 |
| 5 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 0 | - | 0 | - | 3 |
| 5 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 1 | - | 0 | - | 3 |
| 7 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 4 | | | 1 | - | 0 | - | 4 |
| 9 | 5 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 1 | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| 9 | 25 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| 10 | 17 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 2 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| 10 | 38 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 5 |
| 12 | 8 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 5 |
| 12 | 26 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 6 |
| 13 | 9 | 2nd Division | | 6 | - | 0 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 7 |
| 13 | 29 | 2nd Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 8 |
| 15 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 1 | - (n) | 3 | | | 3 | - | 2 | - | 9 |
| 16 | 9 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 3 | - | 3 | - | 9 |
| 16 | 29 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 2 | | | 4 | - | 3 | - | 9 |
| 19 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 0 | - (n) | 0 | | | 4 | - | 4 | - | 9 |
| 21 | 9 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 4 | - | 4 | - | 10 |
| 21 | 29 | 3rd Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 5 | - | 4 | - | 10 |
| 23 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 0 | - (n) | 3 | | | 6 | - | 4 | - | 10 |
| 25 | 17 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 6 | - | 5 | - | 10 |
| 25 | 31 | FA CUP SEMIFINALS | | 1 | - (n) | 0 | | | 6 | - | 5 | - | 11 |
| 25 | 38 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 6 | - | 5 | - | 12 |
| 27 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 2⑤ | - (n) | 2③ | | /
| 6 | - | 6 | - | 12 |
| 30 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 4 | - (n) | 0 | | | 6 | - | 6 | - | 13 |
| 31 | 23 | FA Shield Quarterfinals | | 1④ | - | 1③ | | /
| 6 | - | 7 | - | 13 |
| 32 | 23 | FA Shield Quarterfinals | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 6 | - | 7 | - | 14 |
| 35 | 17 | 3rd Division | | 8 | - | 1 | | | 7 | - | 7 | - | 14 |
| 35 | 38 | 3rd Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 7 | - | 7 | - | 15 |
| 36 | 9 | 3rd Division | | 5 | - | 0 | | | 7 | - | 7 | - | 16 |
| 36 | 29 | 3rd Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 7 | - | 16 |
| 43 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 9 | | | 8 | - | 7 | - | 17 |
| 45 | 2 | AP Cup Group (1) | | 1 | - (n) | 0 | | | 8 | - | 7 | - | 18 |
| 47 | 21 | 3rd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 7 | - | 19 |
| 47 | 34 | 3rd Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 8 | - | 19 |
| 48 | 5 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 8 | - | 9 | - | 19 |
| 48 | 25 | 2nd Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 9 | - | 20 |
| 51 | 3 | AP Cup Group (2) | | 4 | - (n) | 1 | | | 8 | - | 9 | - | 21 |
| 52 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 9 | - | 9 | - | 21 |
| 52 | 16 | 2nd Division | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 9 | - | 9 | - | 22 |
| 52 | 39 | 2nd Division | | 1 | - | 5 | | | 9 | - | 9 | - | 23 |
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON | | - | | - | | |||
Olmec Head Preview
League• Derby County finished 3rd in the 3rd division last season and were promoted.
• Port Vale FC finished 10th in league play last season and were relegated to the 2nd division.
Derby County
• Jose Leao (APP/9 Fw) is questionable (head injury) but may return today.
• Muhammed Asamoah (IV/8 Gk) has made 50 appearances for Derby County.
Port Vale FC
• Charlie Maclaren (APP/9 Mf) is questionable (knee injury) but may return today.
• Fokke Taylor (IV/9 Sw) is in line to make his 75th appearance for Port Vale FC (currently at 73).
Head To Head Meetings
• Derby County and Port Vale FC have met 40 times with 25 of those occurring in the League.
• Port Vale FC have won 22, lost 9 and drawn 9 of 40 matches against Derby County.
• Port Vale FC haven't won a league match at Pride Park Stadium since season 13.
MATCHUP
PUNDIT CORNER
| Derby County | Position | Port Vale FC |
| 12 | Goalkeeper | ✓ 17 |
| 16 | Sweeper | ✓ 17 |
| 51 | Defenders | ✓ 54 |
| 42 | Midfielders | 42 |
| 29 | Forwards | ✓ 32 |
| 6 | Est. Attacks | ✓ 8 |
🅾 PREDICTION: DER 0 – 1 PV (PV to win)
🏠 Home: Derby County (+9 🏭 Groundsman) — DF:1 MF:0 FW:8
⚔️ KEY BATTLE: Defence is the decisive area — Port Vale FC (54) edge Derby County (51) at the back, giving the visitors a marginal but meaningful structural advantage throughout.
⭐ ONES TO WATCH: Sebastiano Di lorenzo (SW, TL:16) — DER | Dylan De boer (GK, TL:17) — PV
🎯 VERDICT: Port Vale FC are predicted to take this one despite being away from home, with their superior defensive and attacking totals outweighing Derby County's home advantage boost. The Groundsman effect lifts Derby's forwards and defence slightly, but Port Vale's overall team strength proves just enough to edge it 1-0. Dylan De Boer in goal, rated at 17, is expected to be the standout performer — his commanding presence will be crucial in preserving the narrow victory for the visitors.
RAY'S TAKE
DER 0 - 1 PV
Port Vale's lads up front — Aguilera leading the line — they'll fancy this all day against a Derby backline that's shaky as a market stall in a gale. De Boer in goal for Vale is rock solid, and I reckon he barely breaks sweat tonight. Derby at home means nowt if your defence can't hold a clean sheet.
MARCUS'S TAKE
DER 0 - 1 PV
Port Vale arrive at Pride Park with a squad that simply outclasses Derby in almost every department, and Aguilera up front looks like a problem Derby's backline won't solve cleanly. Di Lorenzo at sweeper will be busy — and I'd back him to be the one bright spot in an otherwise difficult afternoon for the home side. The Groundsman advantage in attack is a curiosity, but eight estimated attacks versus six tells you where the pressure's coming from.
