Port Vale 4-0 Plymouth Argyle
Port Vale 4-0 Plymouth Argyle: Tom Pope made it 25 goals for the season as Vale brushed aside ten man Plymouth 4-0 at Vale Park.
Micky Adams made a string of changes with Davis, Shuker, Loft, Vincent, Williamson and Taylor all returning to the line-up.
There was a bizarre start as Ashley Vincent was sent crashing to the ground holding his head.
And after a slow opening, Vale took the lead through a low drive from Myrie-Williams.
From the kick-off, Vincent was seen to be holding his head again and this time Chadwick was shown red – presumably for violent conduct.
Despite the lead, Vale had looked a little disjointed in the first period – perhaps because of the number of changes to the starting line-up. However, of the changes, I felt Joe Davis stood out with an assured return to the centre of defence.
Vale continued to press after the break with Williamson, who had a quiet first-half linking up well with Pope as Plymouth were forced onto the back foot.
The second goal arrived on 55 minutes when Pope headed home and Plymouth were grateful for keeper Gilmartin pulling off a series of brilliant saves as Vale sensed blood.
Williamson got a deserved goal on 77 minutes when he hooked home and the best goal of the lot came on 83 minutes when Pope scored his second of the game.
There was even time for the crowd to welcome Chris Birchall back to Vale Park as his return to the Valiants capped a good home performance for Micky Adams’ side.
Full-time: Port Vale 4-0 Plymouth Argyle
Vale: Neal, Yates, Chilvers, Davis, Taylor, Myrie-Williams (Birchall), Loft, Shuker, Vincent (Lloyd), Pope, Williamson (Andrew)