Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Port Vale report – lucky Valiants steal a point after desperately poor performance

Against all odds, Vale scored with one of their two efforts on target as James Wilson’s late effort earnt them a scarcely deserved point in Buckinghamshire. It was game of poor quality with Vale’s familiar failings on show again.

Team news

Manager Andy Crosby made four changes. In came Nathan Smith, Alex Iacovitti, Tom Sang and Ryan Loft for Kofi Balmer, Funso Ojo, Ollie Arblaster and Conor Grant. Striker James Wilson was named on the bench.

First-half

A scrappy first forty five minutes saw the Valiants have no clear goal-bound chance in contrast to the hosts who forced a number of set piece opportunities. Nevertheless, in a half of poor quality it was goalless at the break.

The first chance of  the game fell to Leahy from a poor clearance from Iacovitti but his effort went over. Ripley then saved a cross shot from McLeary. Ryan Loft, who had put himself about in the opening minutes, broke for Vale but the keeper was out quickly to clear.

There was then a period of heavy pressure for the home side. A scramble in the box saw the home fans appeal for a penalty but it wasn’t given. Vokes headed a chance wide while Sadlier had a couple of efforts as Wycombe forced a series of corners and headers. There continued to be the odd shaky moment for Connor Ripley including one chance where he came out to clear only to find Leahy with his kick. Thankfully, his long-range effort was saved by a back-tracking Vale keeper. The Valiants were clearly hanging on at times.

Vale’s best passage of play came from a breakaway move when good work from Loft and Sang set up Chislett but his cross into the box evaded everyone. However, it was the home side who had been on top for most of the half and they will probably be disappointed that they hadn’t taken one of their many chances.

Second-half

It was much the same in the second-half before the home side finally took one of their chances. Once again, it was a mistake at the back as no-one picked up Sadlier who was unmarked to force home McLeary’s cross on 52 minutes. Vale looked bereft of confidence after that goal prompting jeers from the away following angry at the side’s poor performance.

Wycombe continued to have chances with sub Lyle Taylor having two opportunities, a Phillips shot blocked and penalty appeals for a Debrah challenge in the box. It was looking like the home side would be more likely to score again as Vale didn’t have a shot until 75 minutes. That effort came from sub James Wilson who had just entered the field.

However, against all the odds, Vale equalised when Ben Garrity and James Wilson had close-range efforts with Wilson eventually forcing the ball home in a goalmouth scramble. The Valiants held on for what was frankly an undeserved point but one that they will accept nevertheless.

Player notes

Far too many Vale players were off their best in this game. Connor Ripley was good at times, shaky at others. Nathan Smith was far from his best. Gavin Massey wasted too many crosses and Ryan Loft, while an improvement on his earlier performances, wasn’t any threat. Alfie Devine was often a peripheral figure while Ethan Chislett was probably Vale’s biggest threat though he flickered only intermittently. Credit though to James Wilson who made a difference when he came on.

Closing thoughts

Despite the draw, this was a desperately poor performance with many of Vale’s failings to the fore. The defence always had a mistake or two in it, the side were toothless upfront without any goal attempt for 75 minutes. Too often Vale attacks would come to a halt as a player shielded the ball rather than taking a chance and trying to beat their man. There was no attempt to change things with early substitutions and players looked short of confidence. Over ninety minutes, the Valiants were comprehensively outplayed by another poor, out of form team and were lucky to get a point on the day. Yes, they may have made a point, but play like this again and they will be thrashed by better teams than Wycombe.