Oxford Utd 4-0 Port Vale report – sorry Valiants slump to heavy away defeat
Oxford Utd 4-0 Port Vale report – A poor Port Vale display and some eccentric officiating saw Vale slump to a heavy away defeat at the Kassam Stadium.
Manager Darrell Clarke brought back striker Ellis Harrison while Aidan Stone started in goal with Jack Stevens ineligible. Ben Garrity was named on the bench after recovering from injury.
It was a controversial first-half display which saw Vale concede two goals – but those strikes only told half the story with referee David Rock at the centre of most of the controversy.
After a patchy start, Oxford had the first chances with Brown having a shot saved and Anderson hitting the side netting. However, the home side did find the target on nine minutes. Aidan Stone arguably should have done better with a long-range shot and Billy Boden was on hand to fire home.
The home side were threatening in the wide positions, but Vale came agonisingly close to an equaliser on eleven minutes when Ellis Harrison headed against the bar and Mal Benning could not fire the rebound home.
Danny Butterworth made a good run into the box only to receive a last-ditch clearing tackle and moments later Oxford doubled their lead with a goal which enraged the Vale supporters. First, Will Forrester looked to be fouled and then Matt Taylor looked offside as he forced the ball home.
There continued to be a range of baffling refereeing decisions as the half went on and Vale could not bring themselves back into the game. Mal Benning put a shot well over, Nathan Smith missed a couple of chances from set-pieces but the home side could have made the game safe – instead Henry put his shot just wide as it ended 2-0 at the break.
Half-time: Oxford Utd 2-0 Port Vale
If the finger of blame could be, at least in part, pointed at the officials in the first-half, Vale had no-one but themselves to blame for the final 45 minutes as they put in one of the poorest displays of the season.
Vale had an early chance for Jones before Oxford took total charge of the game. The impressive Billy Bodin controlled a ball to fire home an impressive third goal on the hour mark and four minutes later Taylor headed in a fourth from a free-kick as Oxford threatened to run riot.
There was very little to write home about from Vale in the second period. Mal Benning shot wide while the best chance came for Ellis Harrison but he put his diving header wide.
The home side could arguably have added more goals but for Aidan Stone who made a close-range save from Taylor and tipped another shot over but it was a chastening afternoon for the Valiant who ended up well beaten.
Full-time: Oxford Utd 4-0 Port Vale
Match stats
Port Vale side: Stone – Forrester (Cass), Smith, Jones – Robinson (Garrity), Pett (Politic), Conlon, Benning – Butterworth (Odubeko), Massey (Worrall) – Harrison
Subs: Hall, Holden
Vale bookings: Robinson, Pett, Harrison
Vale goals: none
Attendance: 8,198 (949 visitors)