Port Vale 2-0 Bristol Rovers report – Harrison and Pett goals secure vital home victory
Port Vale 2-0 Bristol Rovers report – first-half goals from Ellis Harrison and Tom Pett helped the Valiants to a potentially vital home win which could secure their League One safety.
Interim manager Andy Crosby, who could have earned the next gig as permanent Vale boss, brought Tom Pett, Ellis Harrison and Funso Ojo into his starting eleven.
Vale started strongly with an effort from Ojo before Harrison gave Vale the lead on 22 minutes with his eleventh of the season. Will Forrester headed a corner back and Harrison acrobatically volleyed it home against his former club.
It got even better for Vale on 29 minutes when Harrison turned provider to nod the ball into the path of Tom Pett who scored from close range.
It would have been the perfect opening 45 minutes for the Vale but for injuries to both Harrison and Wilson with the former replaced on 40 minutes and the latter during the half-time break.
There was another injury blow for Vale in the second-half with Worrall forced off but the Valiants still had chances to add to their score with Butterworth and Donnelly both going close.
However, the Vale held on fairly comfortably to record a clean sheet and a welcome three points that almost certainly guarantees League One football again next season.
Port Vale
Playing XI: Stone – Forrester, Smith, Donnelly – Worrall (Robinson), Pett (Conlon), Ojo, Benning – Massey (Plant), Wilson (Butterworth), Harrison (Proctor)
Subs not used: Stevens, Taylor
Port Vale goals: Harrison (22), Pett (29)
Port Vale bookings: Forrester, Proctor
