Match report: Huddersfield Town 4-0 Port Vale
Port Vale may have exited the FA Cup at the third round stage but more worryingly for the club’s long-term hopes, the club lost key players Remie Streete and Jak Alnwick through injuries.
Michael Brown named an unchanged starting eleven but was boosted by fit-again Anton Forrester who made the bench.
As would be expected the home side dominated possession and Vale were grateful to Alnwick for a brave save early on. However, that save did appear to injure the Vale keeper who notably struggled afterwards.
Huddersfield took the lead on the half-hour mark through Payne’s expert shot and Vale suffered a further blow when Streete limped off just before the break.
The Valiants were mainly reduced to long-range free-kicks from Ryan Taylor but suffered another injury blow when Alnwick limped off on the hour mark to be replaced by Santos.
Rocked by those injuries, Vale conceded three goals in the last fifteen minutes as Palmer, Bunn and Payne with his second gave the home side a comprehensive victory. The only slight consolation for the Valiants was the return of Anton Forrester who played the final quarter of an hour.