Strikers Ben Waine and Devante Cole both scored as Port Vale secured an away draw at Kenilworth Road. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Manager Darren Moore named the same side that played in the successful cup week. It meant the experienced Ben Amos started in goal while Ben Heneghan and Connor Hall were in front of him. George Byers and Funso Ojo formed an experienced central midfield pairing with Ben Waine, George Hall, Ruari Paton and Devante Cole in a pacy frontline.
Rhys Walters and Jayden Stockley were among the players named on the subs bench.
Ben Amos – started in goal
First-half
It was a tale of two free-kicks at Luton with in-form striker Ben Waine netting for the third game in a row.
A confident Vale side started pretty well and the opening 25 minutes was a fairly even affair. Luton had a half-chance on 18 minutes when Ali got the better of Headley but he curled his effort wide. Meanwhile, good work from Ojo put Waine clear. His cross found Byers but he blazed wide.
The home side then took the lead on 25 minutes when Paton was adjudged to have fouled just outside the box. Bramall’s excellent curling free-kick gave Amos no chance. There was a further blow for Vale when Funs Ojo was forced off on the half-hour mark with what looked like a serious injury.
Amos saved another Luton attempt before the Valiants struck back on 42 minutes. It was in-form Waine who headed home from a Paton free-kick. It was a good delivery from Paton and also a good header from the New Zealand International.
At the break it was all-square with Vale matching the hosts. It was all to play for in the second-half.
Half-time: Luton Town 1-1 Port Vale
Ben Waine: third goal in three games
Second-half
The Valiants took the lead through Devante Cole but a Naismith equaliser meant Darren Moore’s men had to be satisfied with a point.
Vale started on the front foot and a couple of early corners caused problems. Meanwhile, Luton’s first attempt was a wild shot wide from Naismith.
The Vale took a deserved lead on 54 minutes when Waine broke on the left. Paton did well to keep the attack alive and his low cross presented Devante Cole with an empty goal. He made no mistake to put Vale in front.
Luton nearly equalised immediately but Headley did well to tackle Morris in the box. It should then have been three for Vale as Headley’s cross was met by Paton but he rattled the woodwork from a tight angle. However, the home side equalised on 69 minutes when Naismith headed home from a corner.
Moore made two chances on 75 minutes and while it was sensible to see a tiring George Hall replaced by Brown, it was a surprise to see the influential Paton replaced by Faal. Replacing Waine, who had had a quiet second-half, may have been better.
It was Luton who finished the stronger putting Vale’s defence under pressure. The closest they came was from another Bramall free-kick which went just over on 82 minutes.
There was an element of the walking wounded late on. Kyle John was forced off injured, while fellow full-back Jaheim Headley seemed to be struggling as was midfielder George Byers. With Byers unable to continue, Vale had to complete the game with ten men.
The Valiants were clearly struggling and did well to see out the eight minutes of additional time. Given their League position, Vale will be disappointed that it’s not three points, but an away draw represents a better outcome than their recent League results.
Full-time: Luton Town 2-2 Port Vale
Ruari Paton: two assists
Analysis and Opinion
The match
The Valiants looked more comfortable which may be a message for Mr Moore – who’d have thought that keeping the same formation and starting eleven helps familiarity and partnerships? It was good to see that Vale heads didn’t drop after conceding.
Once again the officiating beggared belief at time. At one point, Headley was scythed down only for the decision to go against him. To be fair both sides suffered baffling decisions.
In summary, I can only hope that Darren Moore will repeat last season and show some consistency in selection as both this starting eleven and formation look strong enough to start to string some positive results together. Please don’t change it if it doesn’t need fixing.
The players
It was a decent all-round team performance. Ben Waine is like having a new signing but all of the front four caused Luton problems at times. The back four were mostly solid although Amos may be disappointed with the second Luton goal. The injuries will cause concern and while it was sad to see Funso Ojo forced off injured early, his replacement Rhys Walters was impressive. Jaheim Headley had a good second-half, while Irishman Ruari Paton was a constant creative outlet and set up both the Vale goals.
Star player
For both assists, Ruari Paton.
Summing up in a sentence
As Christmas approaches, are Vale finally attempting the Great Escape?
Match stats
Team: Amos – John, Heneghan, C.Hall, Headley (Debrah) – Byers, Ojo (Walters) – G.Hall (Brown), Paton (Faal), Waine (Stockley) – Cole
Subs: Gauci, Croasdale
Yellows: Heneghan, Byers
Reds: none
Goals: Waine (42), Cole (54)
Attendance:
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
Far better display Moore at last has realised keeping the same side is good however we are 5 points adrift at the bottom and now we have to contend with the opposition and really stupid and biased referees it was by far the best performance in a long while and if it wasn’t for extremely poor referees we would have won this game comfortably hopefully in the future we may get more than a Sunday morning referee we may be in a chance of avoiding the drop but I fear the damage has already been done I hope I’m wrong well played the lads
4-4-2 = 2 Goals .
I wasn’t at the match today sadly due to a prior commitment but my lad went and tells me that we absolutely battered them and should perhaps have won. 4 4 2 formation as per the readers and contributors to thus page and suddenly goals galore but still just a point. 7 points from safety is a massive hurdle to face and one wonders if the man who picks the team had perhaps changed it up sooner the gap would not be so large. Looks like the Peterborough game next Saturday is going to be pivotal as defeat could leave us double digits from safety going into the pantomime season but a win in front of the home faithful could possibly reignite belief?
Good result, likely influenced by selection consistency. It’s a measure of Vale’s predicament that post game saw them cast adrift from safety by another point. Seven points from safety with 27 games remaining definitely isn’t insurmountable. The club could turnaround their rock bottom position with selection consistency, but it could also be scuppered by injuries. After today’s match the treatment room is filling up. That could be a major problem given the busy match schedule, especially if John and Headley join out of action full backs Gabriel, Clark, Johnson, and Gordon. For now, an away draw at Luton is commendable. That, along with two recent successive Cup wins, might see the heat on Moore cooling.
A real all for one & one for all performance from a much improved Vale team who not only played Luton but also the referee?where do they get em.!! The player ratings were all 7+ With the much critical by ME was 8+well done George Byers for showing me what we believed we getting when you signed we are far from out of the woods but with that fight & that spirit you’ve all given us hope !! Ps I hope Ojo and other injured are not long term Well Done Today Lads UTV
First of all, well played Mr Byers. I’ve never been his biggest fan and have made no secret of it, but when he plays like this I’m only to happy to praise him. It’s just ashamed I’ve had to wait 18 months to do so. Other than the two goals we conceded I was over the moon with their performance. There were so many good performances it’s difficult to pick individuals out. It does give you hope ! I believe the players called the recent meeting with the manager and told him they couldn’t play his wingback system and insisted he went to a 4-4-2 system with a settled side. If so, this is the second season Moore has come under pressure to ditch his ridiculous systems, so what is the point of him carrying on as manager? Even after he stood there witnessing Vale dominate the game with a 4-4-2 system, pressing and having runners all over the pitch he has to try and change it by bringing on two static 6ft odd centre forwards! What is up with the man ?? The sooner he is gone the more chance we have of staying up ! Can I also say what a stunning turn out it was by the Vale fans, I couldn’t believe it when I got there.
I echo a lot that has been said in the forum, I just hope Mr Moore has learned his lesson about systems, gives the players a chance to play to their strengths, a big thank you to the players who I believe spoke out. Come on Vale WE CAN BEAT THE DROP, and show some class on the way, but it all depends on the manager, will he have another brain storm about systems.
I need to have another whinge about those two ridiculous substitutions. Everyone could see how well the Vale were playing, from the off they pushed up on them and dominated the game. They ran their legs off, contested every ball and were well on top. So WHY send on two towering slow centre forwards?? It took all the momentum out of the vales play (although it didn’t matter in the end because of the injury to Byers) but it just stopped the Vale in their tracks. It’s just pub football tactics, lump the ball in the box and hope the big lads will get a touch. Those substitutions, which he has used on more than one occasion, totally sums up Moores tactical awareness, lump it in there and hope! We didn’t even have any wingers or wingbacks on the field to supply decent balls into the box for the big lads. Is it any wonder Vale have been out thought in the majority games, and are where they are. The club needs to act now before it’s to late, Moores is ruining the club.
Isn’t we have all said what you are saying, but he has got some kind of hold on Vale that we may never know, well not until he goes from Port Vale.At times to me the club is nothing like the Vale I have supported since,1959/1960.