The Valiants put on an awful first-half display but an improved second 45 saw them denied by the woodwork as they were beaten by Rotherham United in their League One opener.
Team news
Darren Moore gave full debuts to four players – goalkeeper Marko Marosi, defender Cameron Humphreys, midfielder Jordan Shipley and forward Ben Waine in what looked to be a 3-4-3 formation. Waine formed part of a front three alongside Jayden Stockley and Lorent Tolaj. Humphreys was in the middle of a back three between Jesse Debrah and Connor Hall.
Rookie keeper Arron Davies was named on the bench alongside Rico Richards, Ronan Curtis, Funso Ojo and Ryan Croasdale.
First-half
It was a nightmare start for Darren Moore’s side as they ended the first-half two goals and a man down.
The Valiants kicked off but the first chance fell to the home side. Liam Kelly latched on to a first minute free-kick to drive it wide from the edge of the box. Moments later, Powell flashed another shot wide and Marosi had to punch a corner away. It had been a nervy opening few minutes from the Valiants.
Rotherham continued to be the better side and the opening goal came on thirteen minutes. Rafferty’s curling ball from the right just evaded Debrah and Nombe’s expert drive beat Marosi at his near post.
Vale countered on 15 minutes with a move that saw the ball find Waine but he took a heavy touch. The resulting corner saw Byers’ header headed away by a defender on the line. Another move saw Headley drive the ball into the box and it came off a defender for another corner. That corner saw the ball come out to Mitch Clark who put a fierce drive over.
The home side took charge again and a corner was just about cleared by Tolaj. Captain George Byers then picked up Vale’s first yellow of the season on 23 minutes. There was another attack from Rotherham which saw Hugill’s weak header saved by a busy Marosi.
Good work by Stockley on 26 minutes saw him feed Waine but the striker was ruled offside. However, Rotherham then made it two goals to the good on the half-hour mark. A corner was allowed to be headed back in, Marosi’s weak punch didn’t clear it and Nombe forced the ball home from close-range.
It went from bad to worse on 31 minutes when Jaheim Headley was dismissed for a dangerous challenge. Vale could not really have any complaint as Headley’s foot appeared to be high as he went into the tackle.
On 38 minutes, there was a half-chance for Tolaj but his shot went just wide of the post. Meanwhile, Hugill wasted another good chance for the home side when he was found in the box but could only unleash a weak effort.
The Valiants had the last chance of the half when good play between Stockley and Waine saw the latter’s header saved. That was the end of the action and it left Vale with a lot to do in the second period.
Half-time: Rotherham Utd 2-0 Port Vale
Second-half
It was a much improved display in the second period by the Valiants but they were denied a late draw by the woodwork.
After such a poor first-half display, Darren Moore made three changes at the break. Funso Ojo, Ronan Curtis and Ryan Croasdale came on for Ben Waine, Jayden Stockley and Jordan Shipley. There was an early chance for Curtis as he met Ojo’s free-kick with a header but it went wide.
The home side had yet another opportunity when Rotherham’s Hall was allowed to run to the edge of the box but his drive went wide. Vale countered with a chance for Tolaj on 53 minutes which was saved. Ther was another chance three minutes later but Byers headed straight at the keeper from Curtis’ free-kick.
A good move saw Vale pull one back on the hour mark. An interchange between Byers and Curtis set Clark free and his low cross was converted by Connor Hall. It was deserved reward for a much improved display in the second 45 minutes.
Vale continued to push for an equaliser with Tolaj making some good breaks down the right. One of those saw former Valiant Zak Jules bring the Swiss striker down and he was dismissed. It was now ten against ten with fourteen minutes left. Vale had another chance on 81 minutes when Rotherham failed to clear but Ojo’s shot was blocked and there were appeals for a penalty when Tolaj appeared to be held back. Yet another chance saw Tolaj set up Byers but his shot drifted wide. The next to threaten was Curtis who mis-kicked from close range.
Vale came even closer in the 92nd minute when the ball found Tolaj only for his shot to strike the woodwork. An equaliser would have been deserved result for an excellent second-half display by Vale’s ten men but it was not to be.
Vale will rue that poor first-half but should take heart from their dynamic showing in the second period.
Full-time: Rotherham Utd 2-1 Port Vale
Analysis
The match
The first-half would be the opposite of what fans would have wanted. A man down, two goals conceded and a lacklustre display. The second-half was so much better and Vale were unlucky not to claim a point.
The tactics
After playing two upfront in the second-half of last season, it was odd to see Moore start with three upfront. The front three meant Vale were a man light in midfield – the lack of a holding man meant Rotherham were able to pick up clearances from the defence. Moore corrected this bringing on two midfielders at the interval with Vale looking much better as a result.
The players
For me, the red card looked fairly cut and dried. In the first-half, Lorent Tolaj was largely anonymous, the defence shaky and Marosi made a weak punch for the second goal. Vale were transformed in the second period, thanks to the triple substitution which strengthened the midfield. It was a much better second-half display by the whole Vale team.
Star man
It’s tricky to pick one. Tolaj had a much better second-half, Hall did a great job on the left flank, Clark was lively at times, while subs Ronan Curtis (pictured) and Ryan Croasdale both did well.
Food for thought
It’s an obvious statement, but Vale need to start better.
Match stats
Team: Marosi – Debrah, Humphreys, Hall – Clark (Heneghan), Byers, Shipley (Ojo), Headley – Waine (Croasdale), Stockley (Curtis), Tolaj
Subs: Davies, Richards, Walters
Yellows: Byers
Reds: Headley
Goals: Hall (59)
Attendance: 9,883
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
Or scroll down and post your comment at the bottom of this match report
Once Ben Amos had a long injury an experienced keeper was and remains a must.
I put this loss of 3 points down to you Mr Moore, why play Hall at left full back, why was Wayne even in the starting 11, Headley was way out of his depth,The second half was a different game, Mitch Clark ran his socks off, as for the goalkeeper, he will be a bundle of laughs
The manager is always responsible – whether it’s a win, draw or loss.
I do agree on Ben Waine – surely he should be a similar role to Hackford last season – on the bench and bring him to inject pace against tiring legs late on.
Hall didn’t play LB until Headley was sent-off. Until then he was part of the back three as usual. However, it does beg a question about the subs bench. There was Croasdale, Ojo and Walters on there who all play in similar positions. But there was no Shorrock or Gordon (John being injured) on there. Perhaps swopping one of the central midfielders on the bench for a wingback would have been more sensible, created a more balanced subs bench and allowed a more like-for-like replacement for Headley when he was dismissed? Having said that, I thought Hall did well out of position and put in a shift for the team.
I would hope we see a reversion to 3-5-2 on Thursday. For me – Tolaj and Stockley upfront – a holding midfielder (for me, Croasdale) into the midfield and one of Shorrock/Gordon in for Headley.
I hope a keeper is in the sights too. It would be a massive leap for Arron Davies if he was called upon and I think we do need back-up and probably competition for Marosi if Amos is out for months.
I think Waine was in the starting 11 because of Ruari being injured as I think he would have started today’s game ahead of him.
The goalkeeper is a joke we have missed opportunities to bring in dessent keeper’s in the last few months in fact last season Moore’s redeeming quality was his recruitment his tactics have always been poor looking at this season’s recruitment non of the new signings have not improved the team this team are going back to league two Rotherham will finish in the bottom half of the league same problems as two seasons ago very disappointed
Disappointed for Rico. Not even 10 minutes today! For Cardiff 2 up front please Darren. Point would have been deserved on 2nd half performance. Thought Byers was good today. However the best midfielder in the ground was sat with Vale fans behind the goal, great to see Ollie Arblaster oh how we could have done with him today!
Confidence sapping result against modest League 1 opponents, underpinned by questionable starting eleven and tactics. With Player of the Season Croasdale relegated to the bench with Walters, there was a damaging and disjointed first half performance as Moore ditched last season’s successful formula. Immediate priority is to recruit a reliable experienced keeper, loan deal or permanently.
Players being played out of position and 3 up top in first away game is crazy. No Paton, Shorrokck, Walters or Plant. And Garrity is now looking long term or is their something else in the background going on. The managers line ups and tactics all over the place.
What part did DM not learn from last season that 2 upfront works. OK argue about which 3 should start in midfield but we all know, and I thought the penny had eventually dropped with the Manager, what formation best suits us. At least the Manager knows this division so we wont have to go through that learning curve again, he just needs to remember what worked against Rotherham in the second half.
Moore got it completely wring but his interview on Radio would not admit to if. How the hell he saw fit to play Shipley over last seasons player of thr year Crosdale is a joke, Wayne is to lightweight to be a striker 2 goals in 3 seasons, the keeper is awful and he waits till a week before the season starts to look for a replacement. Great half poor first, your fault Darren.
Not one Vale fan would have guessed that lineup. We are paying a very expensive manager and 4 first team coaches and that’s the starting lineup they come up with. They’ve had a 2 month preseason then decided to leave out possibly our best two midfielders from last season, play our leading scorer almost in midfield, then decided to play out from the back (which didn’t work last season) with a keeper lacking confidence. They looked all over the shop from the off with a disjointed team selection. Moore has signed 9 wingbacks yet we finished the game with not one on the park. Any time Moore tries to think it’s a disaster, just pick your best players in their best positions and get on with it, don’t over think things Dave you just show yourself up!!!!! And stop this playing out from the back it doesn’t work, we were lucky Saturday they were no good and didn’t push up on us.
Gonna stick my neck out but yes Moore got the starting 11 wrong but the finishing 11 proved with tbat effort we can match teams away from home and on other days we will have luck on our side to. We can build on this and use Thursdays came against Cardiff as a better indicator of how we will get on in this league. So let’s go again and put the effort in on TV. Good Luck guys, 100% and no stupid stuff in defence, in in doubt boot it out. Come On Vale, Come On Vale 😉