Bolton 3-6 Port Vale Match Report

Bolton 3-6 Port Vale: Port Vale ended their poor run in emphatic style with an extraordinary away performance at the University of Bolton stadium.

Manager John Askey made two changes to his side bringing both Cristian Montano and perhaps more surprisingly Zak Mills into his starting eleven. The rejigged Vale line-up got off to a great start as good work from David Fitzpatrick and Cristian Montano set up Manny Oyeleke to score from close range on five minutes.

The goal gave Vale a confidence boost and in a purple patch David Worrall and Cristian Montano both forced good saves out of the Bolton keeper. In recent games, Vale would have failed to capitalise but not in this one. On eight minutes, defender Leon Legge powered in a header to put Vale 2-0 up. However, just like recent games, Vale soon conceded. Poor defending allowed Jones to convert on eleven minutes.

It had been an entertaining start and as the half progressed, Vale were involved in some dogged defending and a counter attacking style. When the Valiants did attack the impressive Cristian Montano was at the heart of the good work as his recent good form continued.

Bolton were denied on a couple of occasions by decent Scott Brown saves but Vale pulled further ahead just before the break. Devante Rodney was bundled over in the box and Tom Conlon made no mistake from the resulting penalty kick.

Like the first-half, the second-half also started in dramatic fashion as Vale found the target twice in the opening five minutes. Firstly, good work by Devante Rodney found Cristian Montano in acres of space and he coolly converted Vale’s fourth goal. Four minutes later, David Worrall broke through the defence and his shot beat the keeper at his near post to put Vale 5-1 up. It got even better on the hour mark as defender Nathan Smith headed in from a corner. Vale had now found the target six times from six different scorers.

The home side understandably rallied after that and managed to get consolation goals from Eoin Doyle on 65 minutes and another from Isgrove on 78 minutes after some slack Vale defending. However, Vale could even have made it seven but Oyeleke’s shot went just wide.

This was a stunning performance by the Vale with some good all-round performances. It was arguably one of Devante Rodney’s best games and even though he didn’t score himself he set up a couple of the goals, Manny Oyeleke looks to be gaining fitness and gave glimpses of what a talent he can, David Worrall was a constant pest to the Bolton defence but arguably the start of the show was Cristian Montano who was involved in all of Vale’s best play.

To everyone’s relief, that losing run is finally over – and in some style!

Full-time: Bolton 3-6 Port Vale