Port Vale 0-1 Cambridge Utd: A stunning strike by Liam O’Neil condemned Port Vale to a home defeat and moved them closer to the League Two relegation zone.
What did you think of the game? Share your thoughts and post a comment at the end of the article.
Manager Darrell Clarke made three changes as he once again lined up with a back three. The Valiants had a bright start and should really have been ahead early on. First, Tom Conlon wasted a free-kick in a good position with a tame effort and then Kurtis Guthrie broke clear and should have scored but he saw his effort saved by Burton.
Vale were holding their own in the first-half but the visitors showed their quality when Wes Hoolihan forced Scott Brown into a good save. There were also a couple of chances for former Valiant Luke Hannant as the Vale defence switched off. However, it was a creditable 0-0 for the Valiants at the break although with a more clinical strikeforce they could well have been in front at the break.
In contrast to the game against Stevenage, Vale continued their efforts in the second-half but the side’s lack of quality, with the exception of captain Tom Conlon, was evident. There were some decent passages of play but few clearcut chances. Scott Burgess had a shot blocked and Nathan Smith had a header as the Valiants pressed but too often the crucial final ball was lacking in quality.
Cambridge continued to look dangerous with Luke Hannant again going close and Scott Brown making a superb save from Paul Mullin’s close range header on 70 minutes. But with six minutes to play, the visitors showed the touch of quality that Vale lacked when Liam O’Neil hammered the ball home from the edge of the box giving Brown no chance. That goal sealed the game as the Valiants huffed and puffed but to no avail in the closing minutes.
It meant that Darrell Clarke recorded his first loss as Vale manager but this mess is hardly his making. The Valiants manager has bemoaned his unbalanced side and that was again in evidence on Saturday. It was a defeat that moves Clarke’s team closer to the League Two relegation zone and with sides having games in hand, it’s not out of the question that Vale could drop out of the League. To avoid that, the side need to continue to display the workrate they showed on Saturday but also some quality and clinical finishing to the mix. The question is – are these players capable of doing so?
What did you think of the game? Share your thoughts and post a comment at the end of the article.
Full-time: Port Vale 0-1 Cambridge Utd
Port Vale: Brown – Legge (Swan), Smith, Crookes – Mills, Burgess, Conlon, Taylor, Montano (Hurst) – Rodney (Cullen), Guthrie (Robinson)
Subs: Scott, Brisley, Gibbons
Three games and thee different team selections. No matter what team he picks 4/3/3 is still the best formation for the players we have
John Askey would have kept us up easily Clarke will take us down, this lad is worse than Gannon. Askey was unlucky with our big player’s being injured. However with Taylor being bought back we would. have been safe by now had he stayed. Bad decision by owner’s and now with Clarke in charge I fear the worst. Unless he reverts back to 4/3/3 we are down. Manny Jake and Tom in midfield Gibbons in at full back and hopefully Worral and Montanno up front with a central forward band stick with it. Or it may be goodnight Vienna.
Our players play best in a4/3/3 get us safe and then experiment. You cannot fit square pegs in round holes. Clarke should look at our best performances and work on that to give the team confidence and not keep altering formations.We need points quickly and Clarke does not seem able to deliver, bad appointment. Owners should have kept faith with Askey, this may be our downfall.
Failed to score again, against a defence which was penetrable. Don’t really know where we go from here unless they all give us a bit more. We certainly have got to start scoring. If we don’t we are really in the mire. I just wish we had a sub who could score a goal like O’Neil did today.
Sorry to be so negative once again but but if we didn’t have Barrow, Southend and Grimsby below us it would very much be squeaky bum time.
What a depressing week all round what with England getting hammered in the third test with India, England Rugby losing to Wales in the 6 Nations. I was hoping that Vale might give me something to smile about – but it didn’t happen.