Darren Moore’s out of form Port Vale side were comfortably beaten as their awful run of form continued. Here’s our match report…
Team news
For the umpteenth time, Darren Moore rang the changes. Ruari Paton and Rico Richards came into a front three, Ethan Chislett dropped into central midfield, Jack Shorrock started at left wingback and there was a start for Mitch Clark at right wingback. The bench looked somewhat overloaded with wingbacks – with Cover, Hart and John but no place for centre-half Nathan Smith.
First-Half
It was a familiar story from recent weeks for the Valiants as they were second-best and trailed at the break to Grimsby.
The Valiants had started brightly with chances for Paton and Richards but the home side then began to take control. Jesse Debrah was booked early on and was walking a tightrope as he earned the ire of the home crowd for some challenges.
There was an inadvertent touch from a seagull flying overhead before Town took the lead. Vale allowed Grimsby to reach the byline and the ball was pulled back to the far post when McJannet smashed it home from close range.
Vale had a chance for Mitch Clark which was driven wide but Grimsby continued to have the better chances. Connor Ripley saved well from Danny Rose and then Croasdale cleared when Ripley missed a cross. There were also late appeals for a penalty when the ball looked to hit Debrah’s hand in the box. At the break, Vale were facing an uphill battle.
Half-time: Grimsby Town 1-0 Port Vale
Second-Half
The Valiants ended the game looking completely devoid of confidence as they conceded two desperately poor second-half goals to lose 3-0.
Darren Moore brought on Kyle John for Shorrock at the break. There was then a delay as former Valiant Lewis Cass was forced off injured. Grimsby boss David Artell was booked for his comments to the officials.
Grimsby continued to have the better chances with Connor Ripley saving from Rose on the hour mark. Vale were next to threaten. There was a chance for Paton, created by Chislett, but the forward was flagged offside. Connor Hall then tested the keeper with a shot from a long-throw. However, the home side continued to create the better chances and these would eventually turn into goals.
The second goal came from a free-kick, which was poorly defended, allowing Grimsby defender Tharme’s header to loop over Ripley into the net. With nine minutes left, Vale looked doomed. They did have a couple of late chances for Curtis and John but defeat was confirmed in shambolic fashion when Ripley’s clearance was blocked by sub Svanthorsson who calmly slotted the ball into the net.
Take nothign away from the home side, who were by far the best side, but a word on the classless David Artell who, following a string of comments about Vale fans over the years, further endeared himself with his crass appeals to the officials to get Debrah, on a yellow card, sent off late on. Debrah was probably lucky not to pick up a second booking but that was no way for a manager to behave.
Back to matters on the pitch and this was a desperate way for Vale to end 2024. They didn’t really force the Grimsby keeper into a meaningful save and were second-best throughout this match. Something has to change – and fast.
Full-time: Grimsby Town 3-0 Port Vale
Summary
It may be easiest to list our notes taken during the game. These were – low quality, devoid of confidence, no clear chances and ragged. It was an awful performance from front to back. Ripley made a howler, the defence failed to clear a free-kick, the midfield created next to nothing and the forward line had no service but looked blunt anyhow.
There were some odd decisions with the squad selection once again. Why three wingbacks on the bench but no place for Nathan Smith, who arguably would have been a more reliable starter than Debrah? Why the constant tinkering? It doesn’t allow players to form partnerships and build match fitness. As we go into 2025, Port Vale have a lot to sort out.
Players
Firstly, we excuse the efforts of Ryan Croasdale, who battled magnificently despite clearly not being match fit and Mitch Clark, who also did OK despite his lack of match fitness. A word too for sub Kyle John who looked comfortable on the left. As for the rest… well, Ripley did reasonably OK until his blunder, Debrah was probably lucky to be on the pitch, Chislett was off the boil as was the forward line. Poor Jack Shorrock looked OK going forward but was dodgy at the back and rightly replaced. The subs failed to turn the game around. All in all – just not good enough!
Stats
Starting XI: Ripley – Debrah, Heneghan, Hall – Clark (Tolaj), Croasdale, Chislett, Shorrock (John) – Richards (Curtis), Paton, Hackford
Subs: Amos, Hart, Lowe, Hart
Goals: none
Bookings: Debrah
Attendance: 7,045 (710 visitors)
Competition: League Two
What did you think of the game and the performance? Scroll down and submit a comment.
Meters running on that Taxi for Moore! The only positive from the games over Christmas….our goal difference is still in credit!! Time is up Darren. Come on Carol do the right thing like Sjoke City and get rid of the manager! NOW
I was prepared to give Moore a few off games but time is now up…the constant changing of the team has ruined the team..he has to go
Lack luster performance once again
Absolutely useless vale
Lost the players, lost the fans.
You need to win games and score goals and for ripply he should be dropped
Same old same old is that 3 seasons now up in the top group till xmas n.then down .down down ..its hard to believe it’s happening again . SOmething doesn’t sit right with it …..what goes onup to xmas..something does
Just no food. Dead wood front to back. Tbf
It’s frustrating and absolutely depressing to see this manager who is not able to find a settled team. This should be where Moore adapts his team to play a different system, not just changing players week in, week out. It was a luxury to have a strong fully fit squad. The problem is, there are always inevitable injuries not just to Vale but most teams in league 2, they seem to adapt, we don’t. We really need 2 central midfielders in January or we’ll end up mid table at best!
Losing the the dressing room is feasible, squad rotation every, players not knowing when next they will get a game, no consistency. All adds up to a very dismal run of results. Things need change.
I suggest that Darren Moore reimburses the loyal supporters who suffered another piss poor performance at Grimsby today. I can’t think of any other profession where there isn’t a financial penalty for failure. Let’s hope that he takes stock and offers is resignation so that Port Vale can get the wheels back on the bus. Keep the faith
Moore – get on your bike
After the recent performances I think that the players are now as fed up as the supporters with the constant changes to the team, the obvious lack of tactics and the negative team selections. I’m afraid it is time for a change of Manager, perhaps one who has experience of this division, has a bit of tactical know-how and can motivate players.
No way back for the manager. He as to go regardless of his pay off. It is Carol’s decision and don’t even let have the game on New Years Day. We have had a bad run of injuries but both Byers and Garrity on big money are both injury prone. Who takes over will be looking at a toxic atmosphere like we had some time ago. The managers tactics and formations leave a lot to be desired.
I’ve just about had enough of the constant tinkering with the team every game Moore is doing.
It’s causing so much rift between every squad member as apart from Connor Ripley it seems nobody’s name in the starting X1 is guaranteed.
Ok we have injuries and Sangs suspended but the amount of players we have available he can still keep a balanced settled side.
I do think since his double manager of the month award it’s gone to his head and Moore needs make a wobble of his own head and get back to the basics and start with your best X1 and bloody stick to it.
I stated in my last post, “it’s official, the wheels have come off”. Today’s result and performance confirmed that. There’s a crisis of confidence around the whole squad, and Moore’s selection tinkering and tactical decision making is the root cause. Injuries to key players haven’t helped, but by League 2 standards the squad is big enough and good enough to do far better. One win might lift the malaise, but tonight Moore faces serious questions.
The manager must now be on borrowed time. Tactics and formations awful and we are on a slippery slope towards nowhere.
We are where we belong with this squad and this manager sadly investment hasn’t worked probly need drop out the league for any success
Let’s criticise Artel who won the tactical battle – Debora should have seen red simple
Erm… my report says Debrah was lucky to be on the pitch and that Grimsby deserved the win. However, I think it’s absolutely fair to point out that a manager stamping his feet and waving his hands in a bid to get the officials to show a card was classless. That is no reflection on his tactical or managerial skills just a reflection on him as a person.
Seven without a win,and still in the mix,i will take that,a long long way to go,we are vale arn’t we,
Don’t jump on the bandwagon or we will end up like Sjoke City. Sacking managers every time the team has a bad run. We have to keep the faith. I believe we should change the team from match to match and play a team that nullifies the opposing strengths. Nobody was complaining for the first three months of the season.
We have had injuries too important players and we have now lost confidence and the back room staff now need to earn their corn and pick the players up.
In Darren we MUST trust and see where we are at the end of the season. UTV.
I get all the comments but I think Moore going is not the answer. What he needs to do is do exactly what the majority of fans think and stop tinkering, have a regular 11 and bar suspensions/injuries stick to it whether we lose or win…the team need games to gel and they are not at the moment. On another note, Ripley has to be dropped for a spell, time for a change there.
Moore has got to go back to basics for the time being. Four, four, two is the only way forward with the current squad. Stockley and Paton should start up front every game. To me Hackford, Richards and Benicio are impact players and don’t last 90 minutes. Come on Vale, we are in league2, we can be better than this!
You are unbelievable I’ve just listened to you talking about YOUR PLAYERS,how this is totally unacceptable yes you are right it is unacceptable,IT IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE that the manager is putting all the blame on the players, some where bad on, some we’re vile but not as bad as you Darren, Wrong team, Wrong tactics,you are to blame for most of the terrible performances from YOUR PLAYERS, NOW DO THE DECENT THING “RESIGN “,let us have a manager who will at least give us a chance in a game of 2nd division football.You have not got a clue, how many changes at the next match at least one.”THE MANAGER”.
Yet another bad day at the office for this clueless manager. He continues to play these three cumbersome C/H’s, who are unable to defend their own 6yard box, and seldom get on the end of any set pieces flung into our opponents area. He continues to persist in this senseless playing out from the back, which usually ends up with the ball being passed around aimlessly in our own half unit we either loose possession, or it gets played back to Ripley to launch into the crowd. And even when he plays Paton, Richards and Hackford upfront he still insists on playing pedestrian type football ending with the wingbacks launching Sunday morning crosses into the box. The bleeding seagull won more balls in the air than these 3 put together, but he continued to do it. There has been a lack of goals all season but clueless Moore is no closer resolving the matter. As for that ridiculous stunt at the end of the game when he insisted on all the players lining up in front of a certain section of away fans just be booed and have abuse hurled at them. What has happened to managers protected their players “the buck stops with me” sort of attitude. It was nothing short of a disgrace what Moore did. What is his next step to repair team spirit and boost the players confidence, stocks on the Hamil Road car park so disgruntle fans can pelt under performing players with rotting fruit and veg. He’s the worst manager I’ve seen at the Vale in over 60 years and that’s saying something. The guy is an absolute clown and so must be the rest of his coaching staff who go along with this dross which is being turned out week in week out.