Port Vale 1-0 Milton Keynes
Sub Jordan Hugill provided more evidence of his rich potential as Port Vale made it four home wins in a row.
Micky Adams made four changes with Dodds, Williamson, Yates and most surprisingly Lloyd, who enjoyed a lively return to the side, included in the starting eleven. Due to injuries, Vale could only name five players on the bench.
In an eventful first period, top-scorer Tom Pope unfortunately departed on a stretcher after an injury while the woodwork was rattled three times – twice by the visitors and by Vale’s Carl Dickinson. However, it finished goalless at the break.
It took Vale just minutes of the second period for Vale to take the lead. A mix-up at the back allowed Jordan Hugill, on for the injured Pope, to score his fifth of the season and make it 1-0.
At the other end of the pitch, youngster Sam Johnson gave glimpses of his potential with a solid performance in the Vale goal.
The Valiants brought on Birchall for the (once again) impressive Billy Knott and Gavin Tomlin for Williamson as they looked to close the game down. And they managed to do that with some comfort as the Valiants began the busy Easter period in impressive fashion.
Vale: Johnson, Yates, Duffy, Robertson, Dickinson, Dodds, Knott (Birchall), Griffith, Lloyd, Williamson (Tomlin), Pope (Hugill)
Subs: Smith, Shuker
Attendance: 5,074 (308 away)