Match report: Port Vale 3-2 Swindon Town
Port Vale 3-2 Swindon: Port Vale picked up a potentially priceless three points in a game that wasn’t for the faint-hearted on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Michael Brown brought back defender Kjell Knops while Onamide Shopido was picked on the wing.
In a scrappy opening it was the visitors who took the lead through a deflected effort on 35 minutes but just one minute later, Shopido delivered from the wing and the impressive Chris Eagles scored from close range to make it 1-1 at the break.
In truth, the first period had been scrappy between two sides short on confidence but Vale gave themselves a boost just five minutes into the second-half when Kiko’s low corner was turned into the net via the post by JJ Hooper.
Vale had a golden chance to make it 3-1 when Eagles went down in the box on 52 minutes but Anton Forrester ballooned the ball over the bar. However, four minutes from time a Swindon defender was dismissed for a professional foul on Hooper and the Vale forward powered in a great free-kick to make it 3-1.
There was still time for ten-man Swindon to score another with an effort that seemed to deceive Fasan but Vale hung on for the closing minutes to record a vital three points.
The stand-out players for Vale included Kiko, Eagles and the ever-willing Sam Foley while JJ Hooper’s confidence will surely be boosted by his double. Valiant fans will also be impressed by two loanees with livewire Callum Guy being named sponsors’ man of the match and Onamide Shopido impressed in patches.
However, most importantly of all, Vale had recorded a first win in nine games and there were huge sighs of relief as the fans exited Vale Park.
Full-time: Port Vale 3-2 Swindon