The Valiants return to the road, after two successive home matches, as they travel down to Buckinghamshire to face MK Dons on Tuesday night.
The Dons have lost their first three league matches whilst Vale, will be looking to get back to winning ways after the draw with Bolton.
Here is some interesting pre-match reading for the fascinating clash down south.
Fixture Flashback:
Sky Bet League One, Vale Park, Tuesday 10th August 2004: Port Vale 3-2 MK Dons
We travel back in time to the first time these teams faced off, and only the Dons second ever competitive game as a football club.
It is happy memories for the Valiants in this one as they saw off a late MK Dons fightback to ensure the visitors left Burslem for the first time with no points.
Ian Armstrong was the hero at Vale Park, scoring a magnificent second half brace alongside a first half strike from Steve Brooker to give them their first win of the 2004/05 season.
It was the visitors who took an early lead through Ben Harding, who stole in to beat goalkeeper Jon Brain from six yards, a perfect start to life on the road.
That perfect start was ended in the 42nd minute when Steve Brooker equalised from close range, to send the teams in to the break level at one a piece.
Vale started the second period on fire, and only 22 seconds after the interval, Armstrong wriggled his way clear to grab his first of the match.
Only 20 minutes later, Vale gave themselves a two-goal lead when Armstrong drove in a teasing cross from Lee Matthews, calming the Vale Park nerves.
The nerves came back though when Dons set up a tense finish through Harding's second goal of the encounter, a hammer strike giving the away side hope.
Vale managed to hold on though, to get their first points of that season, a campaign which saw both teams survive with the Valiants finishing 18th and the Dons 20th.
Port Vale | Brain, Rowland, James, Collins, Dean Smith (66’ Pilkington), Hulbert, Armstrong, Cummins, Reid, Matthews, Brooker.
Unused Subs | Goodlad, Birchall, Eldershaw, Jeff Smith.
MK Dons | Rachubka, Oyedele, Lewington, Williams, Palmer, Kamara (Smart 70), Smith, Harding, Herve, Small, Izale McLeod.
Unused Subs | Ntimban-Zeh, Martin, Edds, Hornuss.
Last Time Out (League):
Sky Bet League One, Portman Road, Saturday 13th August 2022: Ipswich Town 3-0 MK Dons
MK Dons poor start to the season continued after goals from Wes Burns, Marcus Harness, and Conor Chaplin condemned the visitors to their third loss from three league games
Burns and Harness smashed the Tractor Boys into a 2-0 lead at the break before Conor Chaplin swept home the third in the second half to send the hosts to the top of the league.
The opening goal only to five minutes to arrive for Ipswich with Burns latching on to Janoi Donacien's superb cross to head home after a lung-busting run from the right-sided centre-back.
Ipswich then doubled their lead in the 28th minute through Harness, Burns was involved once again when his short was parried out by Cumming, but their number 11 reacted quickest to force the ball home.
The third came 15 minutes into the second half when Chaplin turned in after Donacien cut the ball back following some clever footwork in the box.
Town started quickly and had a sight of goal in the second minute when striker Freddie Ladapo stormed free of his man on the left-hand side, but Jamie Cumming was equal to his effort.
MK Dons responded to conceding the first quickly, Conor Grant brought a fine save from goalkeeper Christian Walton.
Dons’ debutant Matt Dennis then missed a brilliant chance to equalise when he headed over Grant's excellent left-wing cross, it didn’t look like it would be their day.
The hosts ended the half strongly with Sam Morsy forcing a stinging save from Cumming after unleashing a piledriver towards goal.
Ipswich went close to adding a fourth late on through substitute Sone Aluko after he drove into the box, but his low effort was turned wide.
Ins and Outs:
Arrivals:
It’s been a busy summer down in Buckinghamshire with lots of incomings and outgoings during the window.
The Dons have brought in a number of faces including Bradley Johnson from Blackburn to strengthen their midfield, and the return of Will Grigg to bolster the attack.
A familiar face to Vale fans after last year’s playoffs, Louie Barry has joined up with MK Dons for a season-long as he looks to build his experience in the football league.
All arrivals | Darragh Burns, Dawson Devoy, Will Grigg, Ethan Robson, Bradley Johnson, Nathan Holland, Conor Grant, Matthew Dennis, Jack Tucker, Louie Barry, Henry Lawrence, Jamie Cumming, Daniel Oyegoke, Lewis Johnson, Ronnie Sandford
Departures:
Our opponents have lost some key players this summer, including the big loss of their top scorer last season Scott Twine, who has signed for Burnley.
Another key man lost is Harry Darling, a fan favourite at the club, moved down to South Wales, signing for Swansea City.
It was a tale of lost midfielders this summer for the Dons, with Hiram Boateng also departing to Nottinghamshire to sign for Mansfield Town, a team Vale fans know well.
All Departures | Scott Twine, Harry Darling, Conor Wickham, Hiram Boateng, Brandon Mason, Aden Baldwin, David Kasumu, Jay Bird, John Freeman
Team news:
Tuesday’s opponents look likely to be without six players through injury including Will Grigg, Daniel Harvie and Nathan Holland.
Despite Tuesday coming too soon for the three mentioned, it looks like they have edged closer to a return to action.
Mo Eisa will also not b available alongside Tennai Watson and Josh McEachran who have respective hamstring and groin injuries.
Form: LLWL
30/07/22: Cambridge United 1-0 MK Dons, Sky Bet League One
06/08/22: MK Dons 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday, Sky Bet League One
09/08/22: MK Dons 1-0 Sutton United, Carabao Cup first round
13/08/22: Ipswich Town 3-0 MK Dons, Sky Bet League One