Wigan Athletic 1-3 Port Vale – match report (FLT)
Wigan Athletic 1-3 Port Vale : The positives were that Port Vale cruised to a win over League One Wigan thanks to goals from Theo Robinson and Cristian Montano. The negatives were that Vale suffered injuries to David Amoo and James Gibbons.
Manager John Askey made multiple changes but one lasted just three minutes as the returning Amoo had to be replaced by David Worrall after just three minutes.
However, the sub was prominent as Vale dominated the opening stages. Worrall set up Alex Hurst whose shot was blocked, then he broke clear and set up Theo Robinson for the opening. Worrall could have scored himself minutes later but his tame shot was saved.
On the half hour mark a defensive error let in Theo Robinson for his second goal and the striker could have made it a first-half hat-trick but his close range shot was saved on 45 minutes.
In the second-half, Cristian Montano stretched Vale’s lead with an excellent third as he netted his first of the season from inside the box.
The Valiants brought on Devante Rodney and David Fitzpatrick and Wigan appeared to have scored a consolation on 79 minutes through Pearce’s excellent free-kick.
However, Gibbons limped off with five minutes to play and Vale’s ten men were grateful for some sharp saves from Dino Visser as the home side pressed in the closing stages. But the Valiants held on to record a welcome win. The worry now will surely be the right-back slot if Gibbons joins Zak Mills and Nathan Smith on the sidelines but that aside, it was an excellent Port Vale performance and a deserved win.
Full-time: Wigan Athletic 1-3 Port Vale
Port Vale team
Visser – Gibbons, Brisley, Crookes, Montano (Fitzpatrick) – Hurst, Burgess, Whitehead, Amoo (Worrall) – Pope, Robinson (Rodney)
subs: Brown, Conlon, Cullen, Trickett-Smith