In the EFL Trophy, the two home group games set record low attendances at Vale Park and Nelson Agho became the youngest player in the club's history aged 15 years, 262 days.

They did manage to pick up a 1–1 draw at league leaders Lincoln City on New Year's Day, though after the game, Aspin considered leaving the club after feeling that supporters had shown him a "lack of respect".

[8] His sixth signing was central midfielder Manny Oyeleke, who had just left National League side Aldershot Town after picking up their Player of the Year award.

[9] After a wait of some weeks, the seventh incoming player was revealed to be attacker Louis Dodds, who joined on a season-long loan from relegated Chesterfield; he had previously played for the Vale from 2008 to 2016.

[12] Another Peterborough forward then arrived, this time 18-year-old Idris Kanu on a season-long loan, whilst defender Theo Vassell was also signed on a one-year deal from Aspin's former club Gateshead.

[16] Vale kicked off the season at home to Cambridge United on 4 August and made a flawless start with both Tom Pope and Ricky Miller getting off the mark in a 3–0 victory.

[18] Aspin made his fourth loan signing of the summer later that week, bringing in 19-year-old Aston Villa full-back Mitch Clark as cover for James Gibbons and Cristian Montaño.

[19] Clark went straight into the starting eleven at home to Crawley Town on 18 August, and helped the new look defence to a clean sheet and 1–0 win despite the away side dominating the play for much of the second half.

[29] Second-place Exeter City then came to Burslem and took a 1–0 lead that they defended until the seventh minute of injury-time, at which point Kanu scored a dramatic late equaliser, his first goal in professional football.

[44] Struggling Cheltenham Town came to Burslem the following week amidst awful weather conditions, and just 3,109 spectators witnessed a 2–2 draw, Kay secured a point with a stoppage-time header.

[48] Vale travelled to league leaders Lincoln City on New Year's Day and looked to be leaving with a 1–0 defeat despite a very credible performance, before Oyeleke scored a spectacular stoppage-time equaliser to secure a point; after the game Aspin threatened to quit the club after feeling that supporters had shown him a "lack of respect".

[50] On 12 January, Vale fell to a 3–0 home defeat to Colchester, losing Pope to a hamstring injury in the process and Aspin bemoaned his side's poor run of luck.

[53] With Pope ruled out of action for over a month with a hamstring injury, Miller was restored to the starting eleven at Crawley on 19 January and scored the only goal of the game to maintain the club's five-point gap above the relegation zone.

[55] However, he was again facing questions over his own future following a 1–0 home defeat to promotion-chasing Carlisle United; Vale had actually looked good for a point until conceding a deflected goal on 79 minutes despite having Miller sent off for a reckless challenge just before half-time.

[56] They closed out the month with a 0–0 draw at Newport County, though ended a third consecutive game with only ten men as Gibbons was given a straight red card with five minutes left to play.

[59] Former Macclesfield and Shrewsbury boss John Askey was appointed as the club's new manager on 4 February, signing a contract to run until the end of the season; he named Dave Kevan as his assistant.

[71] Vale banished any remaining fears of relegation on 6 April by completing the double over local rivals Crewe Alexandra, with Pope scoring the game's only goal on 78 minutes.

[72] They faced an uphill battle at Exeter seven days later after Howkins gave away a penalty in the opening minute, and were second-best all afternoon to the play-off hopefuls as the "Grecians" claimed a 2–0 win.

[79] With a final position of 20th being the joint-lowest in the club's history (along with 1979–80 and 2017–18), albeit with an improved points tally of 49, Askey released nine of the ten out of contract players: Dior Angus, Harry Benns, Mike Calveley, Danny Elliott, Luke Hannant, Antony Kay, Michael Tonge, Dan Turner and Theo Vassell, with Sam Hornby the only one to be offered a new deal (he rejected the deal and instead joined Bradford City).

[90] Smurthwaite blamed "logistical challenges" for the deal to bring back former top-scorer Marc Richards breaking down on 31 January (transfer deadline day); the club instead signed four youngsters despite having no manager.

[91][92] As the transfer window was closing, the Port Vale Supporters' Club unanimously gave a vote of no confidence in Smurthwaite and elected to begin formal protests against his ownership.

[104] A heavy defeat seemed a distinct possibility after they went 2–0 down inside 20 minutes, but Aspin changed formation and put on Oyeleke, who helped Pope to inspire a goal before half-time, though the team could not find the equaliser and were denied a strong penalty appeal by referee Anthony Backhouse.

They opened the group at home to Burton on 9 October and won the 1–0 game thanks to a goal from substitute Ricky Miller; just 601 spectators showed up for the match, a new record low attendance for a first-team fixture at Vale Park.

[109] They then went on to finish as group winners after beating Walsall 2–1 at the Bescot Stadium, a game in which Nelson Agho came off the bench to become the youngest player in the club's history at the age of 15 years and 262 days.

[112] After the game a portion of Stoke supporters vandalized Vale Park and surrounding areas of Burslem, Chief Superintendent Wayne Jones stated that "We're talking about a minority of 150-200 people who had no interest in the football and were there for the trouble they expected to be played out and intended to cause disorder and damage.

[114] On 8 January, third round opponents Shrewsbury Town visited Vale Park and made 11 changes to their side that drew with Stoke City in the FA Cup three days earlier.

[115] The League One "Shrews" still proved a challenge and it took an 83rd-minute strike from Pope to take the game to a penalty shoot-out, which Vale won 4–3 whilst Aspin faced away as he was too nervous to watch.