Leyton Orient 0-0 Port Vale: depleted Valiants end losing streak with draw
Leyton Orient 0-0 Port Vale: an injury-hit Port Vale squad battled well to earn a goalless draw against Orient on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Darrell Clarke made three changes to his team with starts for Aaron Martin, James Wilson and David Amoo. There were just five subs named with the likes of Tom Conlon, Jamie Proctor, David Worrall and Devante Rodney all out injured.
There was a further injury blow for the Valiants when the influential James Gibbons was forced off just six minutes into the game and he was replaced by Lewis Cass.
It was an open start to the game although chances were at a premium. A Paul Smyth effort went wide on 18 minutes while James Wilson’s weak effort minutes later failed to trouble the home keeper. However, despite the lack of clearcut opportunities it was an even and entertaining start.
The home side had shouts for a penalty when Smyth looked to be felled in the box on 37 minutes. Orient then pressed in the closing stages of the half but Vale’s defence held firm as it was goalless at the break.
Half-time: Leyton Orient 0-0 Port Vale
Vale started the second-half well with Wilson a whisker away from connecting with Hussey’s cross. It was David Amoo who was next to threaten with a couple of half chances.
The Valiants then made a double change with 70 minutes with Amoo and Wilson tiring but their replacements Harratt and Edmondson were largely starved of chances. However, the Vale defence had also restricted the Orient attack and there were few scares as the game drew to a close.
It was a battling performance by Darrell Clarke’s side and although the game was short on both quality and chances, it was a relief to see an injury-hit Vale side end their losing run. There some good performances with Aidan Stone again a calm presence in goal while Connor Hall and Tom Pett were probably the pick of the outfield players.
Full-time: Leyton Orient 0-0 Port Vale
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Match stats
Port Vale: Stone; Smith, Martin, Hall; Gibbons (Cass), Garrity, Walker, Pett, Hussey; Wilson (Edmondson), Amoo (Harratt)
Subs: Benning, Hurst
Port Vale bookings: Walker, Garrity
Attendance: 5,761 (644 away)