Goalkeeper Connor Ripley believes it is good to have a game so soon after the defeat against league leaders Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
Latics suffered a cruel 1-0 defeat against the league’s top side on Saturday but Ripley, who was in inspired form, believes a game tonight is what the side need.
He said: "It’s good to have a game straight after Saturday. I said it after the game, we can’t get our heads down.
“We played really well on Saturday and I think the fans knew we should have won that game.
“When there is a game straight after, we can just carry on that level of performance and hopefully get the three points against Port Vale.
“Every game in this division is tough but we know how big the pitch is and the way they set up, we know we need to get on the ball a lot.
"We need that early goal because it will settle us down. We know we are good at defending, we have the most clean sheets in the league so we will be going to get the three points.”
The fans have really taken to the club’s number one goalkeeper this season and he is thankful for their support.
"It’s good to have the support and trust of the manager as well. I’ve known him for a number of years.
“He trusted me at Motherwell and now he’s trusted me here so all I’m trying to do is play for him and the club and to do well.
“The fans are brilliant and I’ve voiced that before in an interview.
“They have been great with me and the team, I know we haven’t been winning games but they have stuck by us and the lads can’t thank them enough."
Whilst the stopper is impressive form himself, he knows how important it is to start climbing the table now.
“We don’t want to be in a relegation battle but we knew at the start of the season we might be around there because of the new team,” he said.
"If we get a little run of game where we can get the points then we are straight out of it. I looked at the table recently and we are only eight or nine points away from being close to the top.”
Watch the full interview on Latics PlayerHD.