Port Vale 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday match report – Valiants can hold heads high after narrow defeat
Port Vale 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday – the Valiants suffered a narrow loss to division high flyers Sheffield Wednesday in front of another big Vale Park crowd.
Over 11,000 packed into Vale Park to watch a match that was won by a moment of quality from Will Vaulks.
Manager Darrell Clarke brought Tom Conlon, Brad Walker and Will Forrester as the side looked to bounce back from their defeat to Peterborough.
Vale initially started the game well by penning Wednesday back and an early cross from Gavin Massey clipped the bar as the home side threatened. On a pitch which was cutting up badly and in places resembled a beach Brad Walker saw a shot blocked while Vale were unable to take advantage as keeper Stockdale spilled the ball in his area.
However, the Valiants needed to be sharp in their own box. Keeper Jack Stevens made two fine saves, a reaction save from a corner and another as the half neared its end. It had been a fast-paced and largely even first 45 minutes with the Vale well in the game.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Vale were unable to keep up the pace in the second period as the visitors moved up a gear and piled on the pressure. Firstly, Barry Bannon’s free-kick went just wide. The set-play had come from a Dan Jones foul and with the defender already on a yellow, it forced Vale’s first chance as Lewis Cass came on.
The game continued to advance as a furious pace with Wednesday pressing and Vale largely reduced to moves on the break. The key moment came on the hour mark when Will Vaulks hit a high quality long-range shot which gave Stevens no chance.
There were still some half-chances for Vale as they tried to get back into the game but the Wednesday defence largely held firm, helped on occasion by some almost farcical game play (keeper Stockdale collapsing to the floor when sub Odubeko walked past him and forward Mallik Wilks pausing to remove his shinpads when told to qwuickly exit the pitch being just two examples). However, that apart, Wednesday looked a high quality and well-drilled League One outfit whose superior quality ultimately told as they held on for all three points in front of a packed away end.
It may have been a deserved victory for the visitors but Vale can surely hold their heads high. They had matched their more illustrious visitors for periods of the game and continued to threaten right till the final whistle. There will be easier games to come for Darrell Clarke’s side.
Full-time: Port Vale 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Match stats
Port Vale side: Stevens – Smith, Forrester, Jones (Cass) – Massey (Worrall), Walker (Politic), Garrity, Conlon, Benning (Butterworth) – Wilson (Odubeko), Harrison
Subs – Stone, Pett
Vale bookings: Jones, Conlon, Harrison
Vale goals: none
Attendance: 11,336 (3,522 visitors)