Port Vale may not be mathematically down but a home draw against Wigan has made survival near impossible. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Manager Jon Brady largely kept faith with the side which beat Peterborough on Thursday. Two goal Ethon Archer kept his place as did Onel Hernandez while Dejaune Brown and Cameron Humphreys came into the starting eleven as did captain Ben Garrity.
The likes of Ben Waine, George Hall and Jordan Gabriel were all named on the bench.
Captain Garrity
First-half
It was a half of few chances at Vale Park with the visitors having the better ones.
Striker Joe Taylor caused the Vale backline problems with his trickery and he had the best chances of the half. His first came after just three minutes when he blazed a volley over the bar and then forced Gauci into a good save on the half-hour mark. In between Fox headed over during a period of Wigan corners.
The Valiants did grow into the game. A corner nearly fell at Garrity’s feet and the Vale skipper almost fed Brown for a chance. However, Vale’s best opportunities both fell to wingback Liam Gordon. Firstly, he went on a mazy run only to blaze over and he then had another chance from an Archer long throw.
At the break, it was goalless and all to play for in the second period.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Wigan
Liam Gordon – chances
Second-half
Port Vale came into the game and pushed hard for a winner but could not beat impressive Wigan stopper Sam Tickle.
The visitors had the first chance when Connor Hall made an excellent saving tackle to deny Taylor.
After that, Vale came into the game and pushed for a goal. Ethon Archer saw a shot go just wide on 55 minutes and Connor Hall headed wide two minutes later.
A lovely Vale move sparked by Hernandez saw a Ryan Croasdale header saved and then Connor Hall saw another header go over the bar.
Jordan Gabriel missed a close-range chance before Ben Waine was denied in additional time. The sub struck the ball towards goal only for Tickle to produce an excellent close-range save. Vale pushed right to the end but just couldn’t get the all-important winner.
Full-time: Port Vale 0-0 Wigan
Ben Waine – denied at the death
Analysis and Opinion
The match
It would be difficult to decry Vale’s effort as they pushed and pushed but their hectic fixture list and perhaps a lack of quality and confidence saw it end in a draw. It certainly wasn’t a bore draw with chances at either end but a point is clearly not enough for Vale at this stage of the season.
The players
Joe Gauci was solid but his distribution was poor. Connor Hall, to his credit having played three games in such a short space of time, was solid. Ben Garrity and Ryan Croasdale had decent games in midfield. Onel Hernandez had a couple of magic moments. However, it was Thursday’s hero, Ethon Archer, who was arguably Vale’s most dangerous player.
Star player
There were some decent performances, I’d go for Ethon Archer (just).
Summing up in a sentence
A point is not enough for Vale survival.
Match stats
Team: Gauci – Humphreys, C.Hall, Campbell – Hernandez (Gabriel), Garrity, Croasdale (Waine), Shipley (G.Hall), Gordon (Headley) – Archer, Brown (Sherif)
Subs: Amos, Walters
Yellows: none
Reds: none
Goals: none
Attendance: 7,348
Season stats
Your thoughts…
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Decent performance and result under normal circumstances, and yet another clean sheet. By my reckoning Vale have secured a remarkable 22 clean sheets this season, 13 League plus 9 Cup. Pity the attack is consistently so blunt. Brady can set up a team defensively, and that’s a foundation for next season to build on.
Please someone answer me I have just seen a Vale side with Brown, Gordon and Sherif in please tell me who signed them who thought they were good enough to be professional footballers, then I will start on a few more of the players, they are abysmal, this Vale side have killed the atmosphere and the club, it’s rotten from top to bottom, thank you Carol for killing one of the most important seasons in VALES history. Long may you not reign .At my age I doubt I will see a decent Vale side again, it has been terrible to watch, As for you Mr Brady WHY DO YOU PLAY BROWN WHY, he contributed NOTHING in any game I can remember.
The last two performances have been very pleasing, not only did we look largely secure, but we also (what’s important to me) we played some football. Garrity had his best game in 12 months, Croasdale showed exactly why we should keep him, and Archer is getting better the more games he has. He wouldn’t be a bad signing at a decent price. If Garrity can continue this form I’d keep him, then along with Ojo, Croasdale and Walters we would have a solid midfield. The last two games have given me some hope for next season, if a clown like Moore can get us promoted then I’m sure Brady can !!!