Port Vale vs Cardiff City: football previews & free football betting tips, 7th August 2025

⚽ Port Vale vs Cardiff City: football previews & free football betting tips, 7th August 2025

Introduction

Port Vale host Cardiff City at Vale Park on Thursday 7th August 2025 in the early rounds of the League One campaign. Vale look to build on promotion momentum, while Cardiff aim to bounce back after relegation with an early away challenge.

🏥 Team News

Port Vale

• Forward Jaheim Headley has returned to full fitness following a muscle injury and is expected to lead the attack.
• Defender Mitch Clark returns too, though Ollie Arblaster remains sidelined for the season with an ACL injury.
• No suspensions or fresh absences reported, allowing manager Darren Moore to field a full-strength side.  

Cardiff City

• Goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is ruled out for the season due to a hamstring injury; sign‑on Ethan Horvath is presumed to start.
• No other major injuries reported, with midfield and forward options available for manager Sabri Lamouchi.  

📊 Form

• Port Vale: Opened League One with a 2–1 away loss to Rotherham on 2nd August. Their last five games (including end of League Two and friendlies) saw form of L‑D‑L‑W‑W. They scored an average of 1.8 goals per match and conceded 1.1.  
• Cardiff City: Began with a 2–1 home win over Peterborough City. Recent games finished W‑D‑D‑W‑D, scoring 0.8 goals per match and conceding 1.4.  
• Head‑to‑head: Only one previous meeting in 2014, a 3–2 Cardiff win at Port Vale.  

⚔️ Attack vs Defence

From each team’s last five matches.

• Port Vale average: 1.8 goals scored, 1.1 conceded per match.
• Cardiff City average: 0.8 goals scored, 1.4 conceded per match.  
  

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🎯 Players to Watch

Port Vale

• Jaheim Headley: returned from injury and key source of goals in promotion push.  
• Mitch Clark: veteran full‑back back in form and expected to bolster Vale’s defence.  

Cardiff City

• Ethan Horvath: starting keeper likely to replace the injured Alnwick, his experience will be vital.  
• Sabri Lamouchi’s midfield: expected to include consistent performers who missed chances in recent games.

🧠 KickTheBookies Prediction

Predicted Score: Port Vale 1–1 Cardiff City

Expect an evenly balanced match. Port Vale’s attacking edge at home may be countered by Cardiff’s defensive solidity under pressure, making a draw likely with goals from both sides.

Why this prediction:

• Port Vale average nearly twice as many goals per game at home compared to Cardiff’s away output.
• Cardiff concede more frequently than Vale, but often keep matches tight away.
• Limited confidence vs experience—both teams are rebuilding, producing cautious but competitive football.

💡 Betting Tips

• Main Tip: Draw in 90 minutes
• Goal Market: Both Teams to Score – Yes
• Alternate: Over or around 2.0 goals – likely competitive and open

Back the draw at odds of 21/10 with AK Bets.