Match report: Walsall 4-3 Port Vale (League Two)

Walsall 4-3 Port Vale: An awful defensive performance at the Banks’s stadium saw Port Vale concede four second-half goals as they lost to Walsall.

The home side had the first chance of the game when Adebayo hit the bar and they were to rattle the woodwork a second time through Zak Mills’ sliced clearance.

The Valiants were riding their luck somewhat and Luke Joyce was fortunate as a scything challenge was only deemed worthy of a yellow card. It looked like fortune was on John Askey’s side as a good header from Devante Rodney fed Tom Pope and he beat his man to curl his shot past the keeper and give Vale the lead on 36 minutes. It got even better for Vale just before the break when Tom Conlon’s free-kick put the Vale 2-0 up at the break.

However, it quickly fell apart for Vale after the break. Walsall rang the changes and one of the subs, the lively Scrimshaw slid in to beat Brown and make it 2-1 on 51 minutes. There was a brilliant double save from Scott Brown to deny McDonald and Holden but the home side were not to be denied. On 56 minutes, a corner found centre-half Scarr who netted to level the scores.

The Valiants were struggling to come with the pacy Walsall forward moves but the home side were still vulnerable at the back and good work from sub David Amoo set up Devante Rodney to poke home from close range and make it 3-2 to the Valiants on 75 minutes.

However, another goal burst from the home side gave them all three points. On 79 minutes, Scrimshaw got past Nathan Smith and beat Scot Brown at the near post. On 81 minutes, awful Vale marking from a corner allowed an unmarked Scarr to head home the winner.

Vale still had chances with Tom Conlon going close and Zak Mills missing when clear through in the closing minutes, but this was an awful loss with Vale’s defending all over the place. Some major changes are needed at the back as this is now seven goals conceded in two away games.