It may not be enough… but Port Vale at least saved face with a battling second-half performance and a last-gasp goal. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Manager Jon Brady made two changes to his starting line-up bringing in Funso Ojo to the central midfield and Ben Waine to partner Andre Gray upfront. It meant Cameron Humphreys partnered Connor Hall at the back.
Striker Jayden Stockley dropped to the bench where he was joined by loanee Martin Sherif and recent signing Grant Ward.
There was no place in the squad for the injured Ryan Croasdale while full-back Kyle John was named captain once again.
Ben Garrity and George Byers both remained sidelined through injury.
Funso Ojo – back in midfield
First-half
The football gods didn’t smile on Port Vale once again as a poor decision from the officials gave Reading a controversial first-half penalty. It meant the Valiants were trailing once again at the break.
Played on a mud bath of a Vale Park pitch, it was a first-half of low quality.
The visitors had the first opportunities. Connor Hall made a mistake on five minutes but the Reading shot was wide. From the corner, another shot curled just wide. Vale’s first chance came after good play from Andre Gray on ten minutes. He set up George Hall who should have shot but instead decided to pass and the chance was gone.
It produced a brief period of Vale pressure which saw a Hall shot from a corner cleared off the line. Another long-range effort from Gray was then saved.
However, after that, Reading took control and put the Vale defence under pressure. Gauci produced a decent save on 33 minutes to deny Young but then the keeper conceded a penalty four minutes later. The Reading player collided with the Vale keeper in the box but given the muddy conditions, contact looked minimal and a penalty was harsh. Nevertheless, Wing made no mistake from the spot. The Vale fans vented their fury on the officials but to no avail as their side trailed.
On 41 minutes more good work from Gray set up Shipley and his powerful shot was saved in what was the final chance of the half.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-1 Reading
Joe Gauci – conceded penalty
Second-half
An improved second-half performance saw Vale snatch a last-gasp equaliser through sub Martin Sherif.
It was a decent start by the home side. Vale’s first chance came on 52 minutes when the ball found Ojo. His shot was on target but the keeper tipped it around the post. A good pass from Ojo then found Waine a few minutes later but his shot was blocked.
Vale looked a much better side when Jon Brady made four changes on the hour mark. Sub Jayden Stockley tried to connect with a 68th minute corner but could get no power on the shot. Stockley was found again on 73 minutes but was muscled out while fellow sub Martin Sherif mis-kicked from a corner – it was a great opportunity but spurned.
In the final moments, Jordan Gabriel broke but his weak shot was saved by the Reading keeper when he should have done better. From the resulting corner, Connor Hall’s header went just wide. Meanwhile, Reading had been restricted to counter attacks and half chances through the half.
It looked like Vale would be denied but in the last minute, a long kick from Gauci found Archer who broke clear and his pass found loanee Sherif who scored his first goal for the club to claim a point.
It may not be enough to secure survival but it was at least a point proved by the Valiants.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-1 Reading
Martin Sherif – late goal
Analysis and Opinion
The match
Let’s get the obvious out of the way – the pitch was atrocious – but it is the same for both sides. Vale’s lack of confidence at times is clear with Reading looking sharper across the park. In the first-half they looked far more comfortable in possession than the Valiants. This was partially down to Vale’s formation which didn’t suit them.
The match officials were absolutely dreadful – an attention seeking referee and incompetent assistants. However, one positive was Vale’s second-halfformation change and more positive play that resulted in the second-half. It deserved a goal and a draw – although ultimately Vale probably need snookers at this stage of the season.
The players
The positives. Funso Ojo battled hard and had one of his better games. Captain Kyle John was solid. Ben Waine showed determination but faded as the game went on. Andre Gray clearly has skill but is lacking match sharpness.
Vale’s regig in the second-half also improved things – with Stockley looking a threat, Sherif opening his account and George Hall much better suited to a midfield role.
However, there were also plenty of negatives. The game seemed to pass Jordan Shipley by, George Hall looked uncomfortable as a wingback, Ethan Archer had an poor first-half (but a better second-half) and Elijah Campbell looked shaky at times (as his inexperience showed) as did his fellow defenders.
Star player
Funso Ojo
Summing up in a sentence
Vale save face with Sherif equaliser.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – John (Heneghan), Humphreys, C.Hall – G.Hall, Ojo, Shipley (Gabriel), Campbell (Gordon)- Archer – Waine (Stockley), Gray (Sherif)
Subs: Amos, Ward
Yellows: none
Reds: none
Goals: Sherif (96)
Attendance: 7,043 (1,546 visitors)
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
Small step in the right direction. Green shoots of recovery in the second half with the substitutions, a better team shape, and positive movement. Safety remains a virtual impossibility, but the Vale finished the game resembling a football team with determination.
Vale were certainly second best in the first half to the extent where Reading were giving us the runaround. The big talking point will be the penalty, it’s one of those, players are good at making contact with keepers, and if the keeper fails to get a touch on the ball they risking decisions going against them. If the keeper had been an outfield player it’s a definite penalty, and I’m sure if the lad had got a white shirt on or cream one, 5500 would have been screaming for a penalty. Second half we did improve after the substitutes were made and deserved the late goal and point. It was nice to see the commitment and effort, especially with it being rewarded with the late goal,but again we seemed disorganised and void of any ability. The home support of 5500 is a credit to the Vale fans under the circumstances, but is showing what the owners have to look forward to next season. They do need to come out and talk to the supporters, and stop looking down on us and treating us like fools. You feel there’s no trust or respect there anymore in either direction.