It was a familiar story for struggling Port Vale as they lost heavily on their travels once again. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Port Vale manager Jon Brady named a line-up without a recognised forward for the game at Adams Park.
Brady made three changes from the side which lost at Doncaster Rovers in midweek with Martin Sherif, Elijah Campbell and Rhys Walters dropping out. In their place came captain Ben Garrity, Kyle John and Ethon Archer.
Vale were missing Ben Waine and Liam Gordon through international duty but they did at least have forwards Sherif and Andre Gray on the bench.
Kyle John – returned to side
First-half
The home team strolled to a half-time lead with the only comfort for Vale being that it wasn’t more than one goal.
It was a poor performance by the Valiants who carried little in the way of goal threat. Vale’s day turned bad from as early as the eleventh minute when Jaheim Headley was forced off injured. By that point, Wycombe had already had some good opportunities. An unmarked Woodrow had missed a close-range header and Onyedinma messed up a one-on-one chance.
Nathen Lowe blazed over before the hosts opened the scoring on 24 minutes. Humphreys and Gauci both went for a low cross but left it to each other and Woodrow snapped up the loose ball to make 1-0.
Vale counted with a Garrity effort that was comfortably saved and a Shipley free-kick that went wide but it was largely one-way traffic. The hosts dominated possession and the play was almost entirely in Vale’s half but Wycombe could not add to their one goal lead.
Half-time: Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Port Vale
Joe Gauci – at fault for the goal
Second-half
It was a marginally better second-half display by Port Vale but ultimately they were well beaten by the home side.
Jon Brady made two half-time changes with John and Shipley replaced by Walters and Gray. There was an early chance as Gray immediately tried to set up Archer but the winger could not quite reach the pass.
After that it was one-way traffic again. Vidigal outpaced Gabriel but Gauci saved. Connor Hall was on hand to block a close range Nathan Lowe effort and a Morley drive was deflected wide.
Another rare Vale chance saw Archer set free on 56 minutes and he narrowly shot over. On the hour mark there was an even better opportunity as Gray found Gabriel and his header struck the post. The Valiants had left it late but they were finally back in the game and securing some possession.
However, Vale were dealt a sucker punch on 68 minutes. The Valiants failed to clear their lines, the ball fell to Connor Taylor and his deflected effort gave Gauci no chance. It was game over.
Wycombe were denied on 80 minutes when Onyedinma’s effort was saved but they didn’t have to wait long for the third. The same player was set free on 85 minutes and he dinked the ball over Gauci to stretch Wanderers’ lead. It was deserved by the hosts who were comfortably the more dangerous side. Six minutes of additional time only twisted the knife. During that time, sub Quitirna added a well worked fourth goal for the hosts. It was yet another nail in the coffin for what is turning out to be a chastening Port Vale relegation season.
Full-time: Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 Port Vale
Jordan Gabriel – hit the post
Analysis and Opinion
The match
Where to start with this one? In the first-half, lining up with no recognised forward, Vale completely lacked any threat upfront. However, despite that fans would have expected some effort and this was another lacklustre display from the side. In the second-half the introduction of Gray helped Vale’s frontline slightly, but the Valiants ultimately were still comfortably second-best. Apart from a brief spell in the second 45 minutes, it had been largely one-way traffic.
The players
It was good to see Kyle John return and he at least put in a shift until he was injured. George Hall, Andre Gray and Ethon Archer all had the odd good moment but they were all too few and far between. Otherwise it was pretty poor fare. Gauci was at fault for the goal and Campbell was frequently troubled by Wycombe’s Onyedinma. The defence as a whole was shaky.
Star player
If he’d stayed on longer, Kyle John. As he didn’t – no-one really…
Summing up in a sentence
Vale are all but down after 21st League defeat of sorry season.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – John (Gray), Humphreys, C.Hall – Gabriel, Garrity, Ojo, Shipley (Walters), Headley (Campbell) – Archer (Hernandez), G.Hall (Sherif)
Subs: Amos, Magloire
Yellows: Ojo, Walters
Reds: none
Goals: none
Attendance:
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
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Slowly getting the feeling this manager is not much better than DM! Diabolical showing today, same old performances from many over aged players, it proves that they are just as crap on a good surface! Does this manager not believe in youth? I have not seen any youth or academy youngsters getting experience or sitting on the bench, (not watched every game so I could be wrong there). Just see the same old tired failing long ball format. Feel sorry for all the travelling fans to experience that pitiful display, especially how much it costs these days. Think the club is slowly falling on its knees again. Wouldn’t be surprised if next season will see us drop out of League Two and into the National League. Who ever said we are, “Building for the Championship”. Better start strategising a rethink for next season now and bed in all the youth, empty the club of deadwood, hangers on and continually injured players, because looking at the estimated finances shown that’s all we will be able to afford.
Glad I gave this swerve cos at least at 2 nil down I caught the end of Escape to the Country! [They didn’t buy any of the houses] I’ve become troubled by M r Brady and his team selections, a game we need to win and no forwards on at the start, perhaps he’s keeping them fresh for the glutton of chances we are going to create at Chelsea next week in our quest to win the fa cup?. The late Mr Moores tactics book on how not to win again in his possession. Mr Bradys free hit about to end and let’s hope for a positive start to the inevitable league 2 campaign. Final thought that the commentator on sky summed it up perfectly at half time stating that only Kyle John and George Hall were trying!!!
Relegation bound hammering.
Same old rubbish another deadwood manager absolute no Idea
Retain Humphries,John,G Hall,Waine,Walters. The rest not good enough. A lot of work required in the summer and then measure the manager on his results. Displays are embarrassing let’s hope we are not humiliated at Chelsea.
The pain just goes on…have to say that Mr Bradys comments about staying up dont match the efforts of his team on the pitch. In other circumstances the fans would be calling for him to go..what a very strange situation we are in. Maybe he will be more suited to league 2. Time will tell…
Wow Brady what a response to your call “they will give it all” to try and not get relegated!!!
Give it one hell of a go, really that was shocking commitment!!
Oh dear no effort no skill no idea please someone tell me Jack Shorrock is not available for some reason or it is one hell of a footballing side if the best young player on the books don’t get a look in UTV
Totally agree, as I stated earlier. why is there no young talent getting on the pitch with this manager, obviously the older so called experienced players can’t cut it at this level. If I was Jack I would be looking to move on, feel sorry for the lad, at least DM did give him some game time.
They just cannot do the basics right, Magloire takes a throw in and throws it out of play, then laughs the goalkeeper takes a goal kick and kicks it out of play, there is no adhesion in these players I like everyone who says it know the youngsters would give 100%,give them a chance,and yes I can see Vale going into none league football, especially with Carol in control, then there is Mr Hancock, what else can I say, this Vale squad are an insult to the supporters and I do not think the Mr Brady is the answer, the Vale were a disgrace on Saturday a bloody disgrace to the shirt, they should wear with pride