Rochdale – Port Vale

Rochdale, sitting 24th with just four points from one win, one draw and four defeats, will host 22nd‑placed Port Vale, who sit on five points after a solitary victory and two stalemates. Both sides have struggled to find the net, Rochdale managing only five goals while conceding ten, and Vale scoring three but letting in seven. The visitors hold a marginally better record on the road, yet the home side will be desperate to close the gap on the relegation line. The fixture offers a rare chance for either club to earn a vital three points and begin climbing out of the bottom‑of‑the‑table mire.