2025-26 FA Cup: Fourth Round – Port Vale vs Bristol City

Port Vale host Bristol City in a fourth-round tie in the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup.

Victory would see Port Vale reach the fifth round for the first time since 1995-96 season, whilst Bristol City seek to move past this stage for the second time in four seasons.

The winner of this tie will be at home to Sunderland in the fifth round on Sunday 8 March at 1:30pm GMT.

 

Team News

Port Vale have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw at home to Luton last weekend in League One.

Ben Heneghan (concussion) is unlikely to be available but George Byers, Ryan Croasdale and Ben Garrity are unlikely to be involved due to unspecified injuries.

Bristol City have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-1 Championship loss at home to Watford.

Adam Murphy (ankle/Achilles), Rob Atkinson (ankle), Rob Dickie, Joe Williams (both hamstring) and Luke McNally (knee) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Port Vale host Bristol City at Vale Park on Tuesday 3 March at 7:45pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Port Vale’s first FA Cup tie against Bristol City.
• Bristol City are making their first trip to Port Vale in a domestic cup competition, but are unbeaten in their last four visits to Vale Park in all competitions (W3, D1).
• Bristol City kept clean sheets in three of their last four trips to Port Vale in all competitions.
• Port Vale have lost all six of their FA Cup ties against teams from the top-two divisions this century (L6).
• Bristol City have avoided defeat in five of their last six away all-EFL ties in the FA Cup (W4, D1, L1).

 

Prediction

Comfortably sat bottom of League One with a 10-point gap to safety, Port Vale can afford to shift their focus a bit and try to embark on a cup run as they’ve got nothing to lose for the remainder of this season especially after they surprisingly held Luton at home on Saturday afternoon.

Bristol City on the other hand are in the grips of a fierce battle for the final Championship play-off spot so their priority lies in that competition, but they do have enough quality to also enjoy a cup run if don’t underestimate the Valiants after a scruffy defeat to Watford where they weren’t clinical enough.

Although I expect Port Vale to treat this as a free hit knowing that this is a chance to salvage some positivity from a tough season, Bristol City realistically should be too strong if the likes of Emil Riis Jakobsen and Scott Twine feature.

Prediction: Port Vale 1-2 Bristol City