Match Analysis: Port Vale 1-1 Brentford
Get the reaction from Port Vale’s first League One match of the season with match report, quotes and post-match stats.
Captain Doug Loft scored the first goal of the new season as Vale earned a creditable draw against a strong Brentford outfit.
The Bees, amongst the favourites for promotion had the better of the play and arguably should have won if Clayton Donaldson’s chip had gone in rather than rattling the bar, but nevertheless, this was a good point for Micky Adams’ side.
The Vale started with five debutants and fledgling centre-back partnership Robertson and Dickinson did well to cope with the Bees’ pressure.
Anthony Griffith worked tirelessly in midfield, even threading the odd through-ball through while captain Loft was arguably Vale’s best player.
Chris Lines and Gavin Tomlin, who both showed flashes of class, had quieter games, but Adams’ side looks to have enough quality to thrive in the higher division.
It was the away side who made the breakthrough after 27 minutes when Logan’s fine drive gave Neal no chance.
But Vale refused to let their heads drop and equalised when Loft scrambled the ball home four minutes later.
All-square at the break, it was Brentford who had the better chances in the second-half. Vale, with Pope and Tomlin both expertly shackled were limited mainly to set-piece chances.
However, considering the quality of a good Brentford side, it was a decent start to Vale’s League One campaign
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Dickinson, Jones, Myrie-Williams (Mohammed), Griffith, Lines, Loft (Dodds), Tomlin (Hughes), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Duffy, Birchall, Williamson
“I was pleased to get our first point on the board and happy with the application of the players. Brentford are a quality side who’ll be one of the best in the league, but we dug deep and hung in there. We adapted and coped with them well.”
– Micky Adams