Match Report: Port Vale 1-0 Swindon
Captain Carl Dickinson’s early goal proved decisive as Vale earned a narrow win over Swindon Town.Manager Rob Page made three changes after the disappointing defeat to Wigan. Ben Purkiss and Ryan Inniss earnt recalls while Theo Robinson got a first start for Vale. Young keeper Ryan Boot was on the bench.
The changes seemed to work as Vale took an early lead. Captain Carl Dickinson headed home after a Vale corner was only half-cleared. The goal, Dickinson’s second competitive goal for Vale, proved to be the highlight of a largely dull first-half.
The Valiants started the second period brighter but were unable to find the killer pass. Vale duly brought on JJ Hooper for Robinson in an effort to add a cutting edge. In injury-time, Hooper had a chance to kill the game but the Swindon keeper pulled off a fine save.
However, in general chances had remained few and far between for the paltry crowd of 3,256 the majority of whom could at least go home knowing that Vale had kept a clean sheet and earned another three points at home.
Vale: Alnwick, Purkiss, Duffy, Inniss, Dickinson, Foley, Grant, Dodds (Moore), Kennedy (Kelly), Robinson (Hooper), Leitch-Smith
Subs: Boot, Streete, Yates, Brown