Match Analysis: Swindon 5-2 Port Vale
Tom Pope’s seventh of the season was not enough as Vale conceded five goals against Swindon Town at the County Ground.
Tom Pope’s seventh of the season was not enough as Vale conceded five goals against Swindon Town at the County Ground.
Micky Adams made one change with Tom Pope unsurprisingly replacing youngster Jordan Hugill upfront. Vale had a good start with Pope twice going close in the first twenty minutes. Swindon also had chances with Pritchard twice forcing Chris Neal into action.
Despite Vale’s good work, it was the home side who took the lead through Danny N’Guessan on 25 minutes. Chilvers conceded a free-kick and the forward had a free header as the Vale defence went to sleep for the first time in the match. N’Guessan nearly got a second after Chilvers made a mistake but Neal pulled off a fine save.
However, the home side demonstrated their superiority in the second period as they raced into a three goal lead. Firstly, Nile Ranger made it 2-0 on 50 minutes while Luongo made it 3-0 seven minutes.
Those goals prompted Micky Adams to make a triple change with Jones, Hughes and Myrie-Williams all coming on. Hughes’ stay was nearly a short one after a bad tempered altercation near the Swindon bench that earned the Vale striker a yellow card.
Vale finally rallied in the last half-an-hour with Pope netting his seventh of the season on 73 minutes. And seven minutes later Williamson set up Hughes to make it 2-3.
But with the Valiants pushing forward looking for an equaliser, they left themselves open for the break and with eight minutes left Byrne curled a brilliant shot past Neal to restore a two goal advantage for the home side.
And in injury time, Luongo broke clear and beat Neal to score Swindon’s fifth goal. It was a sobering result for the Valiants who will now need to rally themselves ahead of the tricky cup tie against Shortwood United.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Chilvers, Dickinson (Jones), Dodds, Griffith (Myrie-Williams), Lines (Hughes), Loft, Williamson, Pope
Subs: Johnson, Hugill, Duffy, Birchall