League One: Shaily reckons Bristol City are, finally, on an 'upward curve' - but he would, wouldn't he?

PORT VALE v BRISTOL CITY

After a bright start to the season Port Vale are now starting to slide down the table at an alarming rate. Last weekend's 3-0 defeat at lowly Gillingham leaves Martin Foyle's men with just seven points from their last eight league games and as a result Vale now find themselves in the bottom half of the table.

One of the biggest shocks of last week came at Ashton Gate, where Bristol City ended a run of nine consecutive defeats by beating second-placed Huddersfield. Just as pleasing for City boss Gary Johnson was the fact his side managed to keep a clean sheet after previously leaking 11 goals in five games.

Johnson put his side's victory down to 'work-rate and organisation' and he will be hoping his team came follow up against a side still suffering a horrendous injury crisis.

Doncaster's narrow 3-2 win against MK Dons may have been a little fortuitous but there is little doubt that Dave Penney's men are starting to hit top form. The Yorkshire outfit have taken 15 points from their last eight league games to move up to ninth and a genuine play-off challenge looks increasingly likely.

Swansea needed an Andy Robinson free kick to salvage a point against in-form Colchester last week but the Welsh side were still able to extend their lead at the top after Huddersfield's defeat at Bristol City.

Swans boss Kenny Jackett is without the services of Kris O'Leary after the midfielder damaged ankle ligaments in Tuesday's LDV success against Peterborough, while striker Bayo Akinfenwa is also unlikely to feature as he has returned to Nigeria to attend the funeral of his grandmother.

Only in-form Barnsley have accumulated more points than Colchester over the last eight matches and last weekend's 1-1 draw at Swansea saw the U's extend their unbeaten run to an impressive ten games. Manager Phil Parkinson has no fresh injury worries although Marino Keith and Stephen Hunt remain long-term casualties.

MK Dons, whose recent up-turn in form was ended by Doncaster last week, could be without star striker Izale McLeod for the trip to Layer Road. McLeod, who has been strongly linked with a move to Wolves, faces as a late fitness test after picking up a thigh strain, while fellow striker Clive Platt is also struggling with an ankle problem. Midfielder Wade Small has recovered from a similar ankle injury and could take his place in the starting line-up.