A below par Port Vale side were well beaten at the Keepmoat stadium on Tuesday evening. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Port Vale manager Jon Brady made two changes to his starting eleven. Liam Gordon was on International duty with Guyana and was replaced by Cameron Humphreys while skipper Ben Garrity, after his return from injury, dropped to the bench with Jordan Shipley starting. Shipley joined captain Funso Ojo and Rhys Walters in a three man central midfield. Humphreys partnered Connor Hall at the back with Elijah Campbell moving over to left-back.
Ben Waine was also missing from the squad as he was on International duty with New Zealand.
Humphreys – returned to side
First-half
The Valiants were under the cosh in the opening stages. There was one opportunity after Headley shot over following good work from Sherif. But after that it was one-way traffic. Humphreys and Connor Hall were both on hand to block attacks before Gauci produced an excellent save to deny Hanlan from close range. That chance came after hesitation from Campbell who was having a tough time in the opening period.
It got worse for Campbell on 22 minutes. The on loan defender deflected Sterry’s effort past Gauci to give the home side the lead. It was probably fair in terms of how the game had gone but was hard luck for the young Everton loanee. By the half-hour point Vale had just that single half chance to their name.
The second half-chance duly arrived on 34 minutes but an unmarked Humphreys made a weak headed connection with Shipley’s pass causing the keeper no concerns. The third chance was even better as Shipley’s 37th minute shot forced the keeper into a decent save. After so much home pressure, Vale were coming back into the game a little.
However, after those Vale chances, there was another glorious chance for the home side. Doncaster got past the Vale backline too easily, but Gauci made a good save from Lee’s 39th minute effort. on 43 minutes, Gabriel lost the ball and Lee’s effort went just wide of the post. Headley was on hand to tackle Lee who had a third chance in quick succession. Vale should really have been two goals down at this stage.
It was a poor first-half display by Jon Brady’s side who needed to improve in the second period.
Half-time: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Port Vale
Gauci – kept the score down
Second-half
It was a stronger start from the Valiants with Headley threatening from one attack. However, for all their effort few clearcut chances were made. Vale duly made four changes on the 54 minute mark with Hernandez, Garrity, Archer and Brown entering the fray.
There was chaos on the 65th minute mark. Gauci conceded a needless corner and there was mayhem in the box. The ball found the net but it was disallowed for a foul. There was a Vale break on 75 minutes when Hall found Garrity but his powerful drive was blocked. However, the Valiants’ night was epitomised by Archer who left his man for dead and then shanked his cross into the stand.
Doncaster had a further opportunity on 82 minutes but Gauci came out well to make a one-on-one save. Sterry was next to threaten with his drive going just over.
Vale pushed players forward in the closing stages but to no avail as it ended in a defeat.
Full-time: Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Port Vale
Garrity – half chance
Analysis and Opinion
The match
Played in blustery conditions, Vale really struggled to get into the game. Doncaster were first to the ball throughout the pitch. It left Vale chasing shadows at times and Doncaster had multiple chances to increase their lead. Jon Brady’s side were poor for long periods and even during their occasional periods of possession failed to test the Doncaster back-line.
The players
Martin Sherif was isolated upfront and couldn’t hold the ball up. Elijah Campbell largely had a game to forget. Rhys Walters and Funso Ojo battled in the midfield and Joe Gauci made some decent saves mixed up with some odd errors. Cam Humphreys looked off the pace after his illness. None of the subs could influence the result.
Star player
No-one stood out.
Summing up in a sentence
Doom in Doncaster as slim survival hopes take a blow.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Gabriel (Hernandez), Humphreys, C.Hall, Campbell (Gray) – Ojo (Garrity), Walters (Archer), Shipley – G.Hall, Sherif (Brown), Headley
Subs: Amos, Magloire
Yellows: none
Reds: none
Goals: none
Attendance: 7,178
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
Match report portrays a grim and ineffective performance befitting a relegation candidate. The two teams were promoted together lasts year, and started this season in an equal footing. The difference has been the respective team managers and the club’s decision to keep Darren Moore in his job too long, after losing results and club supporters screamed otherwise.
A bit of a wasted journey. The side has got, and has had for a long time, relegation written all over it, and the own goal said it all. Any time anyone pushes up on us and closes us down all our deficiencies are plain to see. We need yet another total rebuild it’s just madness. At least we will have a £12 million loss to look forward to at the end of next season, and Hancock telling us everything is hunky dory!!!
Bring in the academy lads to end the season !!!!!
Yet again i feel sorry for the people who made the journey to Doncaster last night. Yet again it was another feeble performance with the vale only briefly offering something when the subs were made. The recent cup wins have distorted what has actually been happening since the turn of the year. We had plenty of time to turn things around but the signing of players without clubs and youth players on loan meant that we had to approach the extra games with a unfit squad. On top of this the fans get very little insight into our injury list, players just seem to have disappeared…so sad.