Port Vale have still only have three wins in 45 meetings with Bolton as they were comfortably beaten on Saturday afternoon. Here’s our match report.
Team News
After naming George Hall on the right wing on Sunday, Darren Moore once again engaged in some unusual wingback selection by picking both Marvin Johnson and Jaheim Headley. It meant Headley again played in an advanced position as he did against Birmingham City in the League Cup.
Vale lined-up in a 3-4-3 formation with Garrity and Headley flanking Devante Cole. Elsewhere, there was the welcome return of Rhys Walters to the midfield but Ruari Paton, scorer of two goals at the weekend, was surprisingly left out.
A strong bench included Paton plus the likes of Ronan Curtis, Jayden Stockley and Ben Heneghan.
First-half
Vale had the better chances and arguably could have taken the lead from a couple of Connor Hall headers but it was Bolton who took their chances and held the lead at the break.
Vale started brightly with chances for Humphreys, Byers and Hall in the opening minutes.
Bolton wrenched back control but initially were unable to create any clearcut chances. The most dangerous moment being a low cross from Christie which Humphreys had to put behind.
However, Darren Moore’s side were creating chances. Kyle John fed Devante Cole who had a couple of snapshots from close range. Then Ben Garrity’s fierce drive was blocked. Vale then had a succession of headers saved. Two, both from Connor Hall, saw the Bolton keeper produce fine saves.
After all that pressure, inevitably Bolton then took the lead through their star player Cozier-Duberry. Vale could not clear a cross on 31 minutes and it dropped for the on-loan Brighton player to drive it through a maze of legs and past an unsighted Gauci.
The goal lifted Bolton, who had been a little shellshocked by Vale’s strong start and the home side then added another four minutes later. A set piece was cleared only as far as Simons whose shot again gave Gauci no chance. All that earlier good Vale work had been undone.
Gauci saved another effort from Cozier-Duberry on 40 minutes as Bolton looked to extend their lead. It kept Vale to just two goals behind at the break. However, given the home side’s form, that scoreline seemed like an unlikely mountain to climb in the second period.
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Half-time: Bolton 2-0 Port Vale
Second-half
It was an awful second-half display by the Valiants as they could not rally themselves from being 2-0 down at the break. In the end they were comfortably beaten by a far superior Bolton side.
Darren Moore made two half-time changes with Ronan Curtis and George Hall coming on for George Byers and Jaheim Headley. It was odd not to see a recognised forward such as Stockley or Paton used instead. It was Curtis who had Vale’s first attempt of the half as his effort was saved by the keeper.
Meanwhile, Bolton were looking to add to their tally and Cozier-Duberry had a shot well saved by Gauci on 55 minutes. Then Randall had another blocked as the home side looked to add another. An excellent penalty box challenge from Humphreys stopped another lightning fast break from the Wanderers on 65 minutes.
The inevitable third goal came from that man – Cozier-Dubarry who finished emphatically on 67 minutes. It was four on 72 minutes as Cozier-Duberry set up Dempsey to drive the ball home. The gulf in class between the two sides was now apparent. Forss should have made it five as he missed a one on one chance with Vale players not putting in a challenge.
It was pretty dreadful stuff by Port Vale as they finished the match pointless and rudderless.
Full-time: Bolton 4-0 Port Vale
Analysis
The match
The game kicked off after a respectful remembrance service.
When the action unfolded, it was initially an impressive opening by the Vale with them unlucky not to take the lead from a number of chances. It was created by Vale’s high press and them not allowing the home side to play out from the back.
However, the Valiants once again failed to take their chances and it proved costly as a clinical Bolton team secured a commanding win. What was worrying was Vale’s reaction to going behind as their lack of confidence and inability to regroup was apparent. By the end of the match they were a ragged outfit.
It’s a result that puts the club firmly into the relegation picture and increases the pressure on manager Darren Moore. There will be questions about his team selection and formation for this game.
The players
There were some crumbs of comfort. Veteran Marvin Johnson provided quality delivery from the left at times. Joe Gauci wasn’t to blame for the goals. But it was worrying to see the side play so poorly once the goals went in.
Devante Cole had little service. The back three struggled with Bolton’s pace. Vale’s midfield was overrun at times.
All this clearly wasn’t helped by such an odd starting formation which left out on-form Ruari Paton and played Ben Garrity and Jaheim Headley out of position. It’s also a mystery why the out-of-sorts George Byers continues to start ahead of players such as Ryan Croasdale.
Star player
No-one stood out.
Summing up in a sentence
Bogey side Bolton give wasteful Valiants the blues.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Debrah, Humphreys, C.Hall – John (Paton), Byers (G.Hall), Walters (Croasdale), Johnson – Garrity, Cole, Headley (Curtis)
Subs: Amos, Stockley, Heneghan,
Yellows: Humphreys, Paton
Reds: none
Goals: none
Attendance: 21,658
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
Darren Moore needs to leave. His football is rubbish and he will get us relegated. Takes of Walters when he’s doing good and refuses to take off Garrity. Absolutely rubbish, waste of a trip.
Unfortunately WE NEED TO SACK the manager quickly… Don’t know why Carol keeps giving stupidly long contracts
Similar to Stockport, not converting early chances then going behind and no response. Team selection was strange as is usually the case for the clown in charge. The manager Mr Moore picks the team and therefore as I seem to say regularly the buck stops with him.FACT! It seems to most people with an ounce of common sense that he has lost the dressing room. We now find ourselves in the same place in the league as to when this chap was employed and the only way this is going is on a league 2 tour. Time us up NOW!! Time to go Mr Moore. My view is known he should already have been sacked. Come on Carol do the sensible thing tonight and relieve Mr Moore of his duties. TAXI for Mr Moore. I would like to finish on a positive note but struggling…so will go with predicted the correct score which i take no joy from and Sjoke lost! New manager needed immediately
Another inept performance carol bite the bullet and get rid of Moore before it’s too late if we get relegated this season I and a lot of my friends will not be having season tickets next year
We will soon have the best ground in non league football, along with Mr long contract Moore no doubt. He has not got a clue.He is the worst manager going
Following the last 3 matches of Stockport, Tiptree and Bolton shows the current players and manager were promoted beyond their competence, to good for national league but not good enough for division1 so I predict division2 next season.
Why
The Vale’s biggest problem this season is scoring league goals. To start today’s game with Cole isolated up front was strange indeed. Moore ignored the promising Cole/Paton strike partnership after they previously delivered. So, we’re back to disputing the usual selection and tactics controversy that seems inextricably linked to the club floundering in the relegation zone…..as League 1 lowest scorers. The club’s League 1 position is precarious. It’s frustrating that so called smaller clubs with far less player resources (for example Burton Albion) look more comfortable at this level. That surely says something about how their Manager galvanizes their squad. Back home, a long contract didn’t save promotion winner Darrell Clarke. It may not save Darren 1Moore.
He has used every idea he has and nowt worked, he’s clueless about his best side soon as any player hits form he drops them and his football is boring me silly.
Nice chap but he’s needs to go and quickly
I’ve had work commitments today but looked at the result.
It’s no surprise, another defeat and no goals scored!
We have a tactically inept manager who fails to pick his best team week in and week out. I think it’s time for a change of manager.
For me Darren Moore has run out of chances to prove that he can get Vale out of this mess a mess which he created. Carol has to take off the rose tinted glasses and tell Darren Moore that his services are no longer required at Port Vale.
It’s harsh but first and foremost Port Vale is a football club and has to be run as a business which is driven by results on the pitch. Football fans want success for the club they support which can be measured in so many ways but fundamentally means having more wins and draws than defeats a club which they can feel proud and part of.
The table does not lie with a third of the season gone the stats are
Played 15 W 3 D4 L8 scored 11 conceded 19 goal difference -8 points 13
With only 11 goals scored Vale have the honour of scoring the fewest goals in L1
Moore should never have been given the job, 2 wins out of 20 odd games at Huddersfield and Carol says, “he was the only man for me”. He then went on to have a similar record with the Vale and took us down with little more than a whimper. He has gone full circle, playing one forward, players out of position all over the pitch to suit his chosen style of play. Constant changing team selections regardless of results or players form, five substitutions every game with numerous systems changes. On top of this we have his obsession of playing his favourite players ahead of the tried and trusted. It took the appallingly display at Grimsby last season when the supporters turned on him to have him change his way’s, something I can’t see happening this time. Vale will go down with this man in charge and only a new man with fresh ideas will save us. Personally I’ve never understood anything the man is trying to do. He plays a loanee in Faal for a full 90 minutes in the cup game ahead of our own players, plays Paton in midfield and two holding midfielder’s against basically a pub team, tells us it’s rebuilt confidence then changes half the team and the system! “We will learn from this defeat”, how many times have we heard that? 3 wins from 15 league games says to me, we, particularly Moore isn’t learning a thing. We simply need to go back to a settled team, with a settled formation, play a high tempo game, and try to build genuine confidence and an understanding in a style or formation best suited to the squad of players we have.
Same old problem, Moore clearly doesn’t know his arse from his elbow, his team selection is at best questionable, why he continues to play Byers only he knows. It’s simple, keep making the same mistakes Vale will be relegated. Keep the faith, UTV
Carol at least talk to the fans tell us what you see in this manager, it’s a Miracle he manages to walk, the club is slowly being killed off can you not see this, the football on the pitch is terrible, there is no communication with you , there are players on the pitch who are not good for the local pub team, and the squad is far to big, THIS MANAGER ( he thinks he’s a manager) has. Terrible record at all 5 clubs he has been at, to me it just says you have got something against the fans who pay good money to watch the rubbish he says says is football, please get shut of him now or at least TALK TO THE FANS and tell us the Truth, I have spent 65 years supporting Port Vale, you and this manager Killing the club.
Ratings for Bolton game Gauci 7 Cole 6 rest absolute garbage performance !!!UTV
In the last three games i have not seen gauci come out for a single cross,always on his line,time for amos,garrity needs the bench, cole/paton together,faal needs a long long rest,lets have ojo stockley curtis starting,games instead of watching from the bench,next two home games have got to be two wins,because the xmas period looks like it will define our league one status,