Four thoughts after Port Vale play out a goalless draw with Oldham

Glass half-full or half-empty? Rob Fielding shares his thoughts after the goalless draw with Oldham Athletic.

Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts by posting a comment at the end of this article.

Wing wizard Worrall makes a huge difference!

Wow! This was certainly a game where you could easily see what David Worrall brings to this Vale side. The wideman was hugely influential and created numerous chances that a more clinical Port Vale attack would have feasted on. It was perhaps a risk to leave him on for the ninety minutes, but you can certainly understand why, because Worrall makes a huge difference to Vale’s creative play. I am sure I am not alone in crossing everything right now that Worrall can stay fit for the remainder of the season.

Crookes benefits from regular run

I thought that was one of Adam Crookes’ best games in a Vale shirt. He looked full of energy on the left flank and his distribution was decent on the whole. Crookes is one of a number of players to be out of contract in the summer, but if he continues to perform like this, he could well earn a new contract. His left foot makes him a useful member of the backlines, especially with his ability to play both in the middle and as left-back. The defender had been in and out of the side earlier in the season and his current good form perhaps shows what a difference a regular run of games can make to a player.

Will luckless Guthrie ever find the target?

I would advise Kurtis Guthrie to avoid watching any re-run of this match. The striker is clearly still rusty and was always that split second late in converting a host of chances which came his way. If he’d been anything like on form, he could and perhaps should have bagged a hat-trick. I felt for the player on Tuesday night.  It reminds me of Kyle Perry (thirty three games without scoring) or further back Ronnie Jepson (twenty eight games without scoring). Sometimes it looks like fate that a striker will never hit the back of the net for Port Vale. I really hope I’m wrong for the sake of the striker’s Valiants career.  Tom Pope may be reaching the end of his playing career and isn’t the long-term answer to Vale’s forward problems, but I can’t help wondering just how many would the pontiff have scored with Tuesday night’s service?

Glass half-full or glass half-empty?

I guess it depends on your temperament how you view that game. Promising signs of commitment, energy, chances and determination? Or another three points going begging? I always try to stay optimistic when it comes to the Valiants and I think if the team can continue to play like that and can keep key players such as David Worrall fit, then at some point, surely some of those chances will be converted.

There’s still a lot to fix at Vale Park in the summer but I would imagine Darrell Clarke is a mixture of emotions – frustrated about not getting three points but relieved that the side have responded to him with a performance full of verve and commitment. I am sure his main priority is to make sure Port Vale play in exactly the same fashion in the next game, albeit with one crucial tweak… the addition of a goal or two!

Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts by posting a comment at the end of this article.