Port Vale 1-2 Newport County match report – promotion hopes suffer a huge blow
Port Vale 1-2 Newport County: a third successive defeat appears to have doomed any Port Vale hopes of an automatic promotion and could even see the side miss out on a play-off place.
Interim manager brought in Chris Hussey for the injured Connor Hall as another big Vale Park crowd expected the Valiants to turn on the style in front of the television cameras.
Instead, it was opponents Newport who caught the eye in the opening minutes with Ryan Haynes scoring a fine opener but then earning the ire of the home fans with a provocative and ill judged celebration in front of the Railway stand.
Harry Charsley had Vale’s best effort of the half as his powerful drive went wide but it was the away side who were creating the better chances.
The Valiants were disjointed and some of their play prompted criticism from the large home contingent as they failed to create the high tempo, pressing style that had been so productive in recent games.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-1 Newport County
Vale came out with a better tempo in the second period and equalised when Ben Garrity kept his cool in the box to net an equaliser. The Valiants pressed on from that point and James Wilson’s neat turn nearly produced another.
However, the wind went out of Vale’s sails completely when Azaz finished well from the edge of the box. The Valiants could not rally and looked a team devoid of form and confidence. It is a worrying sign as the club look to at least secure a place in the play-offs. After this run of results even that is now in the balance.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-2 Newport County
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THIS FEATURE – CLICK HERE TO POST A COMMENTPort Vale: Stone; Smith, Martin, Hussey; Worrall, Garrity, Pett, Charsley (Harratt), Benning (Gibbons); Proctor, Wilson (Amoo)
Subs: Holy, Robinson, Edmondson, Taylor
Port Vale bookings: none
Attendance: 9,048