Vale’s rookie defence has already equalled last season’s goal tally
After Nathan Smith’s goal against Derby County B, Port Vale’s rookie defensive partnership has now equalled last season’s defensive goal tally.
Smith’s second goal of the season came on Tuesday night and with Streete scoring against Southend, it puts the pair on three goals after seven games of the season.
Remarkably, that is as many as a far more experienced Vale defence managed for the whole of last season (and for that matter it’s just one less than the previous season too).
Here’s a table comparing the three seasons:
2014-15
Games played: 50
Goals scored: 4
Goalscorers:
Veseli (1), Duffy (1), Dickinson (1), Yates (1)
2015-16
Games played: 49
Goals scored: 3
Goalscorers:
Dickinson (3)
2016-17
Games played: 7
Goals scored: 3
Goalscorers:
Smith (2), Streete (1)
When you factor in the four clean sheets that Smith, Streete and co have kept in the opening seven games (there were 13 over the whole of last season) it’s been a hugely impressive start for Vale’s new-look defence.