Port Vale were completely outclassed as a dominant Peterborough side recorded an easy home win on Wednesday night. It could arguably have been more for the home side as goal difference plunged Vale back into the bottom four.
Team news
Port Vale manager Darren Moore made changes from the side which drew at Wigan. Midfielder Rhys Walters, veteran Jason Lowe and wingback Conor Grant all coming into the starting eleven. Dropping out were Tom Sang, Jack Shorrock and Ethan Chislett. Jesse Debrah returned to the bench as defensive back-up.
First-half
The first forty five minutes can only be described as “one way traffic” as the Valiants held on by the skin of their teeth at times.
The pressure started in the opening minutes when goakeeper Ripley was nearly charged down and continued largely unabated through the half.
Jade-Jones slipped when well-placed, there was another opportunity for Randall but he put it wide while Vale, restricted to occasional half-chances had their only shot of note o 26 minutes, an effort from Massey which went miles wide.
The one-way traffic continued as Knight was denied from close range and Mason-Clark stopped by good block from Grant. There was yet another chance for Posh but Poku blazed it wide when well placed.
As the half neared its end, the pressure was ramped up even more. There were appeals for a penalty after a Iacovitti challenge in the box, then a good save from Ripley denied Collins but Vale could not hold on to the break. From the resulting corner, Randall’s scorching effort was deflected past Ripley as Vale went into the break one goal behind, although it could have been several more.
Half-time: Peterborough Utd 1-0 Port Vale
Second-half
Normal service was resumed as the home side continued to put Vale under immense pressure in the second forty five minutes.
The Valiants made a change at the break with Ethan Chislett coming on for Funso Ojo as Vale started with a rare, albeit brief, period of pressure.
However, it was quickly back to type with Peterborough piling on the pressure with Ripley having some scary moments early on as he was charged down a couple of times. Ben Garrity blocked off a Mason-Clarke effort and from the next play, a penalty was awarded when Knight was tugged down. It was Posh skipper Burrows who scored from the spot to put the home side 2-0 up on 54 minutes.
The Valiants made changes but to no avail -as the home side continued to pour forward with the likes of Mason-Clark, Poku and Jade-Jones all a class above any of Vale’s attacking options. It was showboating stuff from Darren Ferguson’s side at times but fortunately for the Valiants it was without the home side adding to their tally until late on.
The home side missed two great chances on 68 minutes – the first an error in the Vale defence but Nathan Smith was able to clear the ball while the second was an excellent save by Ripley from a Mason-Clark drive. The ball was put in the net by Jade-Jones on 70 minutes but the offside flag saved Vale.
Vale’s response, if it can be called that, was a rare shot – on 75 minutes from Ikpeazu – which like Massey’s first-half effort, sailed well wide. It really demonstrated the huge gulf in class between the two teams.
There was a decent chance for Poku on 82 minutes but Ripley did well to palm it over and the pressure proved too much on 86 minutes as Iacovitti scored a headed own-goal from a glorious Burrows cross. As the game went into added time, Vale had their first shot on target. It came from Garrity and was well saved.
One miniscule saving grace for Port Vale was the score could well have been more but nevertheless it had been a chastening night for Darren Moore’s side.
Full-time: Peterborough Utd 3-0 Port Vale
Closing thoughts
This game was a really tough ask for Darren Moore’s side and it was no real surprise that Vale started the game with a line-up that resembled 5-4-1 at times. The late goal in the first-half was a game changer – if the visitors could have held out you could anticipate some fan discontent as Posh had been so dominant without scoring. However, once that goal went it, it was pretty much game over as Vale were badly outclassed.
With Peterborough so rampant, the only slight saving grace for Vale was that they managed to keep the score down as this could have ended in a real hammering. All eyes will now be on the weekend match against Exeter where three points are a must if the Valiants are to attempt to move out of danger once again.
Please note the following stats components may take a little while to update after the final whistle
Match stats
Port Vale: Ripley – Plant, Smith, Lowe, Iacovitti, Grant – Garrity, Ojo (Chislett), Walters (Dipepa), Massey (Shorrock) – Loft (Ikpeazu)
Unused subs: Leutwiler, Debrah, Weir, Shorrock
Vale bookings: Ojo, Lowe, Ikpeazu
Vale goals: none
Attendance: 7,770 (visitors number unknown)
It looked a very difficult fixture, and so it proved. A 0-3 defeat with a penalty and own goal conceded hints at a possibly close game, which it clearly wasn’t. The club’s in a real relegation scrap, but with 3 of the last 4 games at home their fate can be in their own hands. They’ve got a fighting survival chance, something that looked less likely a few weeks ago. But tonight, it seems the gulf in class with a serious promotion contender was one almighty chasm.
(229 Port Vale fans) From Posh.com.
Attendance: 7,770 (229 Port Vale fans)
Attendance: 7,770 (229 Port Vale fans)
Reflecting thus morning on what I witnessed last night. Men againast boys should have been 6 or 7. Waited 92 mins for a proper shot on target. A total shambles from goal keeper who made several 1st half errors to the whole team,nobody last night was a 4 out of 10. We needed fight and determination bit what we got was shambolic and poor. Wish I’d gone to work and saved my money. Darren’s favourite word “dissapointed”
This team is not good enough for league 1 nor league 2 mass clear out of the season I would only keep garrity let Darren bring in players he wants if you want a decent striker you will have to spend a few quid
Darren Moore 2 wins from 13 games. Previous to that at Huddersfield 3 wins 21 games. As the weeks go on looks more and more like an act of genius from Carol and David FAILCROFT to offer a 5 year contract. Talks in cliches and Carol will love the corporate nonsense regurgitated week after week. Where is a straight talking Manager who tells it like it is ? Whoops forgot we sacked him. Darrell Clarke!!!!!
Whole set up at Vale Park is n meltdown. It seems as if the place as developed toxic atmosphere again and does not bode well for the rest of the season and beyond.