Darren Moore’s side matched the home side for over an hour but left Reading pointless after Paddy Lane’s winner. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Team NewsDarren Moore started Ben Heneghan, Rhys Walters and Ryan Croasdale who had all performed well in the League Cup win over Birmingham City. Heneghan joined Humphreys and Debrah at the back. George Byers returned from suspension to start in midfield but Funso Ojo had to settle for a place on the bench. Upfront, loanee Mo Faal was partnered by Ronan Curtis. Recent loan signing Dajaune Brown was named on the subs bench.
First-half
Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Gauci pulled off a couple of sharp saves late on as it finished goalless at the break.
The Australian International saved well from Lane at his near post and again stopped a long-range effort from Elliott in the closing stages of the half.
Reading had the better of the chances with the pacy Kyerewaa causing the Vale defenders issues on the break but Vale will be happy with a first-half performance where they matched their hosts.
Chances were few and far apart until the closing fifteen minutes. Vale had a chance for Curtis after good interplay between Faal and Croasdale but the Reading keeper saved. Next it was Gauci’s chance to impress with a couple of sharp saves of his own.
Vale looked comfortable with Rhys Walters catching the eye with a stand-out performance although team mates George Byers and Ryan Croasdale were also looking good. Meanwhile, the back three had coped well with the searing pace of Kyerewaa. It had been a well matched first-half leaving it all to play for in the second 45 minutes.
Half-time: Reading 0-0 Port Vale
Second-half
Reading striker Paddy Lane broke the deadlock on the hour mark as Port Vale’s wait for a League One win continued.
Once again, after some good play, Vale switched off momentarily and that was enough for the home side to take advantage.
Reading had the first chance when an unmarked Lane was found in the box on 50 minutes. However, Gauci pulled off another fine save to thwart the shot. Straight afterwards, Reading manager Noel Hunt was sent off.
Vale made a double change on 56 minutes as Dejaune Brown made his debut alongside Funso Ojo. The Valiants were probing through wingbacks Headley and Clark but without making any clear chances. The best chance saw Ojo feed Brown who fired just wide on 60 minutes.
However, Reading finally got the breakthrough on 66 minutes when the defence switched off and an unmarked Lane was found in the box. This time he made no mistake giving Gauci no chance with a powerful drive.
Vale switched to a back four in an attempt to get back into the game. They started to press and there was chances for Waine and Ojo – whose efforts didn’t trouble the keeper – and Curtis – whose effort did, forcing a fine near post save. The best chance of the lot fell to sub Brown on 86 minutes. A great ball from Ojo found the youngster who did well to get away from his defender but his wild drive went over.
Despite that late pressure, Reading may have got a second but Headley did well to block a shot at the far post with Gauci beaten. Vale’s wait for a first League win of the season continues.
Full-time: Reading 1-0 Port Vale
Analysis
The match
After the 3-4-3 formation in midweek, Darren Moore switched to two upfront for this game. The first-half was a mostly even affair albeit with few clear chances. However, it was obviously disappointing to see Vale make yet another mistake to concede when they’d worked so hard to keep the scores level.
The players
It was great to see the classy Rhys Walters starting and he impressed throughout. Goalkeeper Joe Gauci’s distribution was hit and miss but his keeping was excellent. The rest of the side did OK although the defence were threatened by the pace of Kyerewaa at time. However, Vale remain blunt upfront. Faal looked off the pace and there are questions about whether Curtis should be part of a front two. He looked better on the flank. Sub Dejaune Brown looked lively on his debut.
Star man
Rhys Walters looks more than suited to League One football.
Summing up in a sentence
Decent display but no end product.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Debrah, Heneghan (Waine), Humphreys – Clark (John), Croasdale (Ojo), Byers (Shipley), Walters, Headley – Curtis, Faal (Brown)
Subs: Marosi, Gordon
Yellows: Heneghan, Croasdale
Reds: none
Goals: none
Attendance: 12,264 (910 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
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When your Keeper is your Best player, u no it’s going wrong. Curtis is better off playing in creative role , than as a Striker.
Port Vale Nil. I’m starting to sound like Mr Moore in after match conference and being a broken record(his words) He’s disappointed once again. He reels the same claptrap out each week and it’s starting to get a bit boring. Quite clearly to everyman and their dog we need to sign a proven goalscorer at this level before the window closes and not untested loan signings. FACT! I will be positive about the lad Brown fom Derby looked lively but missed the best chance. Mr Moore picks the team so the buck stops with him.Taxi for Moore, meters running!!
Yes we need a proven goalscorer (getting late to get one now) but fact is if our defence switch off for a moment in this league you can find yourself a goal down in a flash.The manager seemed very deflated in his interview
To be fair Moore picked a good side and over all probably deserved a draw still no luck in front of goal just one of those games hopefully get a bit of luck in the next game
Where’ is Garrity, (I did say he would end up injured again)where is the new striker, where is Mr Moores Taxii, And why is Mr Moore disappointed AGAIN.i am getting used to Vale -0
No Garrity, Shorrock, Paton what on earth is going at our beloved Vale. Same postmatch claptrap from the manager, pay him upand bring in someone to take us forward. Div 2 on its way if he stays.
Once again Vale are toothless up front. I’m reminded of the 1974 song by Ace “How long has this been going on “. When are Vale going to admit that a proven goal scorer is required. If this losing streak continues then Vale look like they are going straight back down with a whimper and this time it could be a long time before they get promoted.
You can’t fault the players for the effort and commitment they are showing every match but the end result GOALS is not happening. I believed that Darren Moore would continue the good work that he had done last season but I’m beginning to think that maybe his time as manager has run its course and a new face is required to manage the team.
This Vale squad can produce well organised quality football, but the lack of scoring cutting edge is dangerous. Not a single goal against Cardiff, Burton, Doncaster and now Reading. It’s a damaging problem that must be fixed, otherwise relegation will be a formality. With top striker Tolaj sold for commercial reasons, it’s telling that summer signing Waine hasn’t established himself as a regular starter. Over Moore to find answers.
I was largely happy with the team selected, personally I would have preferred Gordon for Headley due to his better defensive qualities, and Ojo for Byers but there you go. The performance again wasn’t bad, and again deserving of a point, but without goals wins or even draws will be difficult to come by. Birmingham have just spent £10 million on someone who looks very unimpressive so it just shows how difficult goal scorers are to find. Even when we had Tolaj Moore usually played him out of position so solving the problem won’t be easy. We could do with a few bouncing in off someone’s backside just to keep us from being left playing catch up. Yet again Dopey Darren put the same old tape on saying we need to learn from it and move on, but when is he and his coach staff going to learn? Once again we’ve conceded a goal from someone unmarked on the edge of the box, while we have 3or4 defenders lined up just inside the box marking nobody. Surely this is something that should have been ironed out on the training field by now, or is it a matter a settled team would resolve?
Why keep changing formation from game to game ..you win ..keep that formation all this tinkering ..stop worrying about the opposition..pick your best players available and best formation and stick to it ….ay is Jamie vardy still available..his salary might be high but he’s a FREEagent ..maybe he’s the rare breed these days ..who just wants to play as long as he can..like they used to . Ali brown ..Jimmy greenoff…etc ..remember them ..proven players who could also bring on the younger players with there experience..
Both teams had chances, they took one of there’s we didn’t. That’s the only difference, we play well,look generally solid but any team can score one goal against you. The problem is when you don’t have the means of scoring 1 or 2 goals regularly in reply when chances come your way.
The club should be honest about the current striker fiasco. It’s abundantly clear we are desperate for a goal scorer it’s also obvious we have made a lot of money on Tolaj and will make alot of money from the cup run and Arsenal game. So let’s have some clarity is Carol not wanting to spend all this profit or is Moore telling her we can cope and don’t need one. I think all Vale fans deserve answers because as it stands it’s pretty obvious we’re going down.
Carol just come out and tell us WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE CLUB, if your so called manager can not get a striker in, get a manager who can, you wouldn’t buy a car without a steering wheel why have a team without a striker, the supporters Will start leaving soon, if Mr Moores is disappointed , how does he think the supporters feel, knowing it’s going to be Port Vale nil AGAIN, it’s been going on since he arrived at the club, at Vale park you need a midfield two wingers and a couple of decent strikers, If in doubt ask the man who knows Rudge.
Carol send someone around the ground with a bucket we the supporters did this to get a striker for Sir John, he did a great job.But then the club kept the supporters informed not like now.
It’s interesting to note that the Vale conceded the only game of the game shortly following the two early second half substitutions Darren made. The same thing happened at both the Stevenage and Doncaster games. When you change the personnel or formation on the pitch you will risk players not being in the right positions. George Byers is an excellent organiser on the pitch and is very reactive to dangerous situations around our own penalty box. I think Darren & his coaching team should recognise this risk and work on it in training and try and minimise the number of changes he has to make during the game and stretch the time the starting eleven are on the pitch.