Five thoughts on Port Vale’s home win over Grimsby Town

Hail Tom Pope – the perfect link man

In the past he’s said he’s the best lone striker in the division. However, I would argue that rather that Saturday’s role was a far better one for the veteran. Pope doesn’t have the pace to be a lone forward but paired with Devante Rodney, the forward partnership looked full of threat. In many ways, Pope is the perfect foil for Rodney. In the past strikers like Andy Jones (Ally Brown) and Darren Beckford (Ron Futcher) have come on leaps and bounds by being next to an old head coaching them through the games and this could be the case here. But Pope’s more than just a voice for his partner. His link-up play is sometimes unsung but he showed his quality on Saturday with some sumptious passes to the likes of David Worrall and partner Rodney. So rather than being the best lone striker in the division I’d argue that Pope is better as part of a front two, where his lack of pace is less important but where his link play can come to the fore.

Returning Worrall was my man of the match

This was the David Worrall we love to watch. Skipping down the wing, putting the ball into the box for the strikers, beating the offside trap… There’s also Worrall’s link-up play with Tom Pope. The two sometimes seem to be on a different level from their team mates with some lovely interplay. Alex Hurst started well but faded, Pope struggled more in the second-half when isolated in the middle and Devante Rodney had flashes of skill but I thought Worrall was hands down the biggest forward threat for the Vale on Saturday.

A cleansheet but perhaps the defence rode its luck

Before going overboard with this Vale win it’s worth noting they were playing a poor Grimsby team down in the relegation zone. And the fact that their opponents hit the woodwork, had a goal disallowed and another only stopped by a stunning Scott Brown save means this cleensheet comes with a huge caveat. Vale still look vulnerable on the flanks and it may be argued that better teams than Grimsby would have made them pay. But having said that, the stats will note that this is the side’s second cleansheet in sixteen games. The defence may still be a little shaky but perhaps this result will give them confidence and bring a few more?

Support for Zak Mills

He may be one of the most castigated defenders of recent years and he may lose out to James Gibbons when he is fit, but I thought that Saturday was one of Zak Mills’ better games. I wonder if that was in part due to the Vale formation and line-up. In previous games, Mills has had next to no tracking back from the players ahead of him and that has left him exposed and looking dodgy at the back. On Saturday with the energetic David Worrall there as part of a 4-4-2 and tracking back diligently there was no panicky moments from Mills at the back. For a player who gets a lot of stick, I think it’s high time for a word of praise.

Caretaker Danny Pugh does his chances no harm

I think being a caretaker manager is a thankless task. You’re usually coming in with the side at a low ebb and potentially just keeping the chair warm for someone else. So, well done Danny Pugh for not just doing a box ticking exercise and lazily calling for “more of the same.” He rang the changes and they paid off. Making Tom Conlon captain was an eye raising but good move. The switch to 4-4-2 made Vale look a different side until Devante Rodney was forced off. Sticking with Alex Hurst will give the youngster confidence. It’s a really good start by the former midfielder and while the Valiants may decide that an experienced manager is a lesser gamble, the 38 year-old hasn’t done his chances of landing the role permanently any harm. It will be interesting to see how Vale fare in next week’s games and in the transfer window. Do well in both and who knows… it could be Pugh in charge for some time yet.