Match report: Port Vale 3-1 Scunthorpe
Alex Jones scored his first Vale goals and Anton Forrester his second as Vale defeated in-form Scunthorpe.
Manager Bruno Ribeiro made two changes bringing back Jerome Thomas and handing Alex Jones his first start. New signings Paterson and Hart were on the bench.
It was an entertaining first-half with Scunthorpe dangerman Van Veen going close on a number of occasions and Vale having a shout for a penalty. In a frantic forty five minues, Paulo Tavares was forced off injured on the quarter-hour mark and replaced by Sebastien Amoros.
The Valiants took the lead when Anton Forrester goal latched on to a Sam Foley through-ball to convert, but Scunthorpe levelled just on the stroke of half-time through a free-kick from Morris. At the interval, the ref came in for heavy criticism from home fans after some controversial decisions didn’t go in the home side’s favour.
The Valiants went ahead as Alex Jones scored an excellent first goal for the club following a cross from Thomas. The visitors were now putting in some industrial challenges and shirt pulling and it was no surprise when Jordan Clarke was sent-off for a second yellow. As Clarke departed, manager Graham Alexander lost his head and was rightly sent to the stands to cool down.
Vale were on top against ten men and felt they deserved another penalty for a shirt pull in the area but it wasn’t given. There were numerous incidents of shirt pulling that were going unnoticed and it clearly angered the crowd.
In the closing stages, Vale were able to bring on sub Martin Paterson for his senior debut but it was Jones who caught the eye with a late winner to make it two goals on his first senior start.
Despite the refereeing controversy, this was a fine all-round Vale performance against a side that was bang in form. It was a win that bodes well for the rest of the season and perhaps in Alex Jones, Vale have found a striker who will score the goals to put Vale in promotion contention.