Notts County 0-1 Port Vale
Mark Marshall scored for the second game in a row as Vale made it 293 minutes without conceding a goal.
Rob Page kept the same squad that defeated Doncaster Rovers at Vale Park. Vale were bang in form and showed it by taking an early lead when following good work from Byron Moore, Mark Marshall scored his sixth of the season after just seven minutes.
The home side dominated proceedings afterwards and had a goal disallowed for handball on twenty minutes. Vale were then indebted to Chris Neal for a number of fine saves. Neal was also involved in a controversial moment when tempers flared – County fans called for the keeper to be sent-off but it ended with the referee booking five players including the Vale keeper.
Vale held on in a good rearguard performance to maintain their lead at the break.
In the second-half, County continued to press with most danger coming from loanee Paddy McCourt but Vale’s remodelled defence held firm. Despite being on the backfoot for most of the second period, Vale did manage to create half-chances for Williamson, Marshall and Pope.
The Valiants brought on Louis Dodds for Ben Williamson in the closing stages as they looked to see out the game. Rob Page’s men held on, although not without some scares as they recorded a highly impressive third cleansheet in a row.
Vale: Neal, Veseli, Robertson, Inniss, Dickinson, Marshall, O’Connor, Brown, Moore, Williamson (Dodds), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Yates, McGivern, Birchall, O’Sullivan, Lines