Vale were pegged back at home as they could only draw 2-2 with Burton Albion. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Manager Jon Brady brought in loanee Eli Campbell at left-back to shore up the defence with Liam Gordon dropping to the bench. Influential skipper Ben Garrity was missing from the squad altogether. The experienced Jayden Stockley started upfront.
To me it looked like Vale lined up in a 3-4-3 formation. Kyle John joined Cam Humphreys and Connor Hall at the back. George Hall and Campbell were on the flanks; Ojo and Croasdale were in central midfield and Waine, Archer and Stockley upfront.
Recent signings Tyler Magloire and striker Andre Gray were both named on the bench.
Ben Garrity – missing
First-half
Goals from Ethon Archer and Ben Waine gave the Valiants a well deserved half-time lead in their crucial match against Burton.
The first incident saw Vale appealing for more than a free-kick when Waine was hauled back when surging forward. However, Vale did get their reward. From the 5th minute free-kick Ethon Archer curled a beautiful effort into the near corner to give Vale an early lead. It was the loanee’s first goal for the club.
There was good work at the opposite end when John made a great tackle in the box to deny Burton after eight minutes. The visitors had a spell of pressure but Vale were equal to it. The Valiants then appealed for a penalty on 15 minutes when Stockley looked to be hauled down in the box but it wasn’t given. It brought a period of Vale pressure with Campbell miscontrolling a good chance on 17 minutes.
Archer was the source of much of the home side’s best moves while his set players were also causing Burton problems. However, the game meandered for a while in the middle period of the half with the tricky conditions not helping.
However, the visitors found an equaliser on 25 minutes when Jake Beesley stabbed home from close range from a corner. But Vale bounced back almost immediately as Ben Waine latched on to a ball from a Vale corner and fired home to make it 2-1 on 28 minutes. It was good awareness from the New Zealand International.
It was Joe Gauci’s turn to excel as he saved well from close range when Lofthouse pounced. It was enough to ensure Vale took a goal lead into the break.
Half-time: Port Vale 2-1 Burton Albion
Ben Waine – on target
Second-half
It was a poorer second-half display by Vale as they allowed Burton back into the game as it finished all-square.
Burton had much the better of the opening stages of the second-half. It started with a Shade effort which struck the post. Albion then equalised six minutes into the half as a ball was allowed to get through to Beesley who converted from about two inches out. It was back to all-square and with Burton pushing to go ahead. On 63 minutes they struck the woodwork again with Gauci beaten. The visitors were well on top at this stage.
Vale’s first chance was a good one as Archer was found in the box but his 73rd minute close range effort was well saved. Moments later, Waine went even closer when his effort struck the bar with the keeper beaten.
With 15 minutes to go, recent signing Andre Gray was brought on as Vale chased a vital win. However, it was fellow sub Brown with the next chance as his first touch was on target but saved by the goalkeeper. Gray did have the ball in the net on 82 minutes but it was flagged offside. There was a further chance on 88 minutes when Brown’s effort was cleared off the line.
The game petered out in the closing stages with a draw probably a fair result – and one the Valiants could not really afford to take as their survival hopes took yet another blow.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-2 Burton Albion
Dejaune Brown – cleared off line
Analysis and Opinion
The match
Played on a tricky surface, this was a slog at times.
In terms of the first-half, Vale put on a whole hearted and committed performance albeit not one without faults. It was a decent attacking display by Vale but familiar defensive frailties remain. While there were scares and errors at the back at times, Vale’s frontline definitely caused Burton concerns with two players booked for challenges on the pacey Waine. While Waine caught the eye with pace, the contribution of Stockley cannot be underestimated as he battled and held the ball up – something Vale have struggled to do earlier in the season.
However, once again, Vale were unable to maintain it for the whole 90 minutes. The second-half was a more timid affair which allowed Burton to dominate passages of play (although Waine did at least strike the crossbar). Vale will rue their defensive mistakes – they cannot allow someone of Beesley’s ability to have two clear chances from close range.
The players
Once again, loanee Ethon Archer was impressive both in his approach play and his set-piece delivery. Fellow loan player Eli Campbell also slotted in well but may have been at fault for Burton’s second-goal.
I’ve already mentioned them but Waine and Stockley also did well. Waine’s pace causing all sorts of problems and Stockley doing a lot of unsung hold-up play. Kyle John also adds so much to this side whether it’s at full-back or (as today) in the back three.
While his distribution can be faulty I also thought Joe Gauci was blameless for the goals and was otherwise solid at the back.
Star player
Ben Waine or Ethon Archer
Summing up in a sentence
Familiar failings for Valiants.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – John, Humphreys, C.Hall – G.Hall Croasdale (Magloire), Ojo, Campbell – Archer (Walters), Stockley (Gray), Waine (Brown)
Subs: Amos, Gabriel, Gordon
Yellows: G.Hall, C.Hall
Reds: none
Goals: Archer (6), Waine (28)
Attendance: 6,232 (604 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
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Must I repeat myself every week?
#CarolOut
#HancockOut
Good game for the neutral could have been 4 each, however we are not in that camp.Quality strike from Archer, I was right behind it and it was in from the moment he hit it, which begs the question why he didn’t shoot from the free kick on tuesday as per my post?Total agree that Stockley and Waine worked well together and you could sense the drop off when a clearly unfit Gray and Brown came on, pity Brown couldn’t finish the 2 great chances he had. Thought it was telling that when Mr Brady came to applaud the fans that quite a contingent in the hamil booed him. Sadly the facts of a solitary point from 2 home games against poor opposition shows us exactly why we are where we are.
I’m getting a bit sick of this ‘survival hopes garbage’ we were down ages ago there was never any chance the players we had and now the ones we have would be good enough to keep us up. What we’re looking at now is a rebuild for next year in league 2 and apart from Ojo who is absolutely useless and Conor Hall who is just as bad I thought the rest did well today and were about as good as you could expect. Least it’s worth watching unlike the useless football Moore had us playing . UTV
Lee – to be fair I’ve been pretty consistent in expressing that I think those “survival hopes” are pretty slim because I appreciate it’s nigh impossible. But surely it’s fair enough to label it so if a) everyone at the club keeps saying they believe and b) it’s mathematically possible. I’m with you it looks totally like we need to prepare for next season but I’m surprised the use of a short phrase to fit a headline is the first thing that comes to mind rather than this team continually disappointing for instance.
Another formation change..manager talks a good talk. But players don’t do the business again….its OK talking possitive but you need results or at least a battlleling performance . ..burton been on sky a few times lately ..they’ve been unlucky ..as played realy well..has anyone been watching them from the vale. ..cuz they’re better than there position states ..not like the vale ..all talk .
I read a lot of negatives about the manager,surely he needs to be given time and patience to turn things around,from what Ive seen,it looks more positive on the field than the results have been.
The team does need rebuilding,more quality needed but nobody can fault the effort the players have put in the last 2 games.
Martin – I would agree with you.
No mention of Garrity? Stockport will hammer us! After the next game there will be no talk of mathematical survival. Its all over this season, lets be totally honest please!!
Yes the manager needs time,Burton we better than us in every department ( why do we always get a dodgie keeper)and please please tell me what Vale fans see in ojo always gives the ball away, John he is another the balls in the air just head it, don’t control it, and Browne well I don’t know who told him but ain’t no footballer, you Carol have got a lot to answer for getting players on the cheap ( mainly with serious injuries Mr Moore got his salary by deceit, Burton may escape Vale will not.This regime is nothing like the Vale I know, and for all you youngsters I feel sorry you and Aldo the manager, at times I was ashamed of what you have done to Port Vale.
Entertaining but low on quality game. In all fairness it looked like a future league two fixture. Brady is having his selection dictated to him in some ways, hence four attacking players on the pitch, while this is leaving Croasdale and Ojo with far too much ground to cover. Defensively we are being stretched and are wide open all over the place. Eli Campbell at left back had a torrid time and was targeted from the off, but Brady did little to help him. All the usual fault were on show, not picking up runners, not closing down on the edge of the box, and not picking up in the box. Brady has failed to iron out any of these problems which is a little disappointing. Attacking wise we did look better, whether that was down to us or just Burton being as bad as us at the back I’m not sure. His substitutions were disappointing as well as baffling. Waine had just rattled the bar and a long with Stockley were starting to get back on top only for both of them to be substituted. Walters for Archer was another one, then we bring on a central defender for Croasdale. Every substitute appeared to be a backward step. How Brady talks, my expectations of him was to come in and tighten everything up and he’s done exactly the opposite.
I’m focusing on the positives. Thought the work rate was really good, Ben Waine had his best game in a Vale shirt, thought Stockley was a real thorn in their side and Kyle John looks solid. Would like to see an extra midfield player in the side just to give us more control.
Just one point out of nine in the three home games against modest Exeter City, Wimbledon, and Burton Albion, reinforces Vale’s relegation credentials. So many opportunities have been lost to bridge the safety gap that it really seems just a matter of Vale completing their fixtures to get the season finished. Management and squad is in transition, and the close season is needed to reset for an inevitable League 2 campaign. Predictably too, home attendances have sunk albeit coinciding with miserable weather. Not a good time to be a Vale supporter.
The Port Vale owners have now become the Labour Party of football,( they tell us who put money into the club )what they are going to do, then do a stupid U turn, no matter what the supporters ask it is denied or delayed ie Moore what a waste of effort, most of his players were injured when they came to Port Vale, Garrity is having problems now because he was played when he was not fit.As for the Burton gave Vale players passed the ball to a Burton player 11 times,John caused more problems than the Burton players, as for Browne he is one of the worst players I have ever seen in a Vale shirt, if the players are coached to do the bread and butter side of the game we would all get behind them.