Leyton Orient 3-1 Port Vale
Goalkeeper Chris Neal was sent-off as Port Vale crashed to a poor 3-1 defeat against Leyton Orient.
Rob Page named loanees Junior and Neill Collins in his starting XI and it looked to have paid off as Vale went into the interval 1-0 ahead. Surprisingly, it was Chris Birchall who outpaced the defender to give Vale the advantage.
But things fell apart in the second period. Neal was left with no option but to commit a professional foul after a suicidal backpass put an Orient player in the clear. Replacement Sam Johnson had no chance with the penalty.
Orient then were in total control, hit the woodwork twice and were thwarted by some good saves by Johnson. But the sub keeper undid all his good work by misjudging a cross and in the resulting confusion the ball went in off Collins.
The home side were then awarded a second penalty and Johnson can consider himself lucky to stay on after what looked to be another professional foul, But an awful spot-kick saw Johnson save with ease.
He was to have no chance with Orient’s third as the left winger found himself in acres of space and fired home to give Orient a comfortable win.
Vale had done nothing in the second period and frankly deserved to leave with nothing after a poor display.
Vale: Neal, Veseli, Collins, Robertson, Dickinson, Marshall, O’Connor, Junior (Johnson), Birchall (Daniel), Dodds, Pope (Williamson)