Port Vale 2-3 Rochdale: the Valiants were made to rue poor defending as they lost at home to Rochdale on Saturday afternoon.
What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Scroll down to post a comment at the bottom of the article.
Manager Darrell Clarke made one change bringing back captain Tom Conlon and before kick-off there were emotional scenes as the club poignantly remembered those fans and players who had passed away in the last year.
On three minutes, Vale had a golden opportunity when Worrall and Garrity set up Proctor three yards out but his shot went wide when it looked easier to score. Two minutes later, Vale had another golden opportunity when Conlon’s brilliant ball set Worrall through but his cross was knocked out for a corner with Proctor and Wilson lurking. The pressure told on seven minutes when another pulsating Vale move saw Proctor head home from close range. It could have been two on eleven minutes but Wilson miscued.
Returning captain Tom Conlon was at the core of the early Vale moves with his interplay with Worrall catching the eye but it was a good performance by the whole team.
However, after that early pressure from Vale, the visitors had a spell of possession. They made the most of it as they got back into the game on 24 minutes, when O’Keeffe crossed and Beesley headed home past Covolan in the area. It was a good finish from the son of former Port Vale defender Paul Beesley.
Rochdale continued to build on their equaliser as they had claims for a penalty and another header from Beesley which Covolan saved.
Half-time: Port Vale 1-1 Rochdale
Darrell Clarke switched to 4-4-2 at the break with Rodney and Cass introduced as subs. An early Vale corner prompted claims for a penalty after an apparent hand ball from Worrall’s drive.
However, it was Rochdale who went ahead when they scored again seven minutes into the half. Another cross found Beesley who headed past Covolan from close range for a second time.
It was captain Tom Conlon who brought Port Vale back into the game. His surging run set up Proctor who calmly beat his defender and then the keeper to bring Vale level on 58 minutes. The visitors broke immediately and a last-gasp tackle from Smith prevented Beesley having a chance of a hat-trick. More good work from the visitors saw Beesley head down for Keohane to draw a save from Covolan.
Poor defending on 78 minutes allowed Rochdale to take the lead again when no-one picked up O’Keeffe’s run into the box and he calmly fired past Covolan.
The Valiants tried to push for an equaliser in the closing stages, but to no avail as poor defending resulted in the club’s first home loss of the season.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-3 Rochdale
What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Scroll down to post a comment at the bottom of the article.
Match stats
Port Vale: Covolan; Smith, Martin, Jones (Cass); Worrall, Garrity (Rodney), Pett, Conlon, Benning; Wilson (Walker), Proctor
Subs: Stone, Lloyd, Amoo, Politic
Port Vale bookings: None
Attendance: 6,113
Said last season Clarke a poor appointment. See nothing to change my opinion. Our better players have not been bought in by him. This manager can only average a point a game at best. Whoever recommended him needs to go along with him. Plays the best right midfielder in the league as a wing back. Would probably play Kane as a midfielder and play Rice and Mount as Strikers. I am afraid he has not got a clue,another season fighting relegation looms. This time last season Askey had us up there but bad luck with injuries to our top players set us back. This manager has a fully fit squad and is doing nothing. Manager and his style of play beggar’s belief or as Del would say about him, what a plonka.
I am totally amazed by the substitutions made at half time. Garrity was one of the busiest players on the pitch and Jones did not deserve to be substituted. The player that should have gone off was Benning. I am afraid that he is not playing very well at the moment – very slow and letting attacking players stroll past him. Plus, at some stage, and hopefully very soon, Mr Clarke has got to accept that he is playing Worrall out of position. He is never a wing defender as everybody other than Mr Clarke seem to know that he is a wing forward. Come on get off that high horse Mr Clarke and accept that you contributed to the loss probably more than the players and certainly some of them were not at the races today.
I don’t know what it is with Vale but everytime they get a decent crowd they put on a dismal display and then the next home match loses about 2000 spectators.