Three thoughts after Port Vale 2-1 Salford City – a win’s a win for understrength Valiants

Rob Fielding shares some thoughts after an injury-hit Port Vale side’s battling 2-1 home win over Salford City.

Rob Fielding writes…

Scrappy, but a win’s a win for understrength Valiants

This game is hardly likely to make the highlights reel at the end of the season. However, if you’re going to put yourself into promotion contention, you can’t play entertaining, champagne football every week. The season is a marathon not a sprint and sometimes you just had to dig in for the victory.

Considering that Vale were missing Jayden Stockley, Ben Garrity, Lorent Tolaj, Mitch Clark and Jaheim Headley – that’s five players who arguably would all have started – it’s a good three points in the circumstances. Vale’s ability to grind out a point or three in 2025 could prove crucial in what is proving to be a rightly contested promotion battle.

Concerns about forward depth

This was a welcome win for Vale and a real battling one. However, one of the negatives is the lack of potency upfront. Jayden Stockley and Lorent Tolaj were both missing for this game and their continued absence will be a real worry. With the pair missing, Ronan Curtis, not a classical centre-forward, was the most experienced option and he now could be missing through suspension. I mentioned some weeks ago about my concern that there is no experienced cover for Stockley in the squad and it makes the decision to send Ruari Paton out on loan (and nowadays there is no recall option) an odd one.

To be fair to Antwoine Hackford, after picking up much criticism earlier in the season, he had a good game but he can still impress and frustrate in equal measures. He’s therefore not a reliable option upfront. Jemiah Umolu looked to be not up to the pace of League Two yet. Some people appear to have already written him off but I think he could improve with gametime – although that’s not really a luxury Vale can afford.

In reality, Hackford and Umolu should both be bench options for more experienced starting options. The worry now is that both may have to take a more prominent role.

John continues to impress

Talking of players with little experience… wingback Kyle John came to Vale with zero experience of senior football but he has taken to League Two like a duck to water. I felt he impressed yet again with his determination and workrate. He’s quickly become a vital squad member with his ability to play on the right and left flanks and even in the back three. The former Evertonian is still only 24 years of age and having only signed a contract until the end of the season, he’s surely worth a longer deal with the club.

A word of praise for John’s fellow defenders too. I felt that on the opposite flank, Sam Hart had one of his best games for the club. Meanwhile, the back three of Debrah, Smith and Hall were as solid as ever. Hall probably deserves more praise than he gets – and that’s possibly because his form at the moment is so consistently high.

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