Managerless Port Vale came from a goal behind to produce a priceless home victory over ten man Blackpool. Here’s our match report.
Team News
Interim manager Jamie Smith made one change with Marvin Johnson replacing Jaheim Headley on the left flank.
Kyle John formed a back three with Ben Heneghan and Cameron Humphreys; Jordan Shipley and Ryan Croasdale formed a three man midfield alongside captain George Byers while Jayden Stockley partnered Devante Cole upfront.
Ronan Curtis, Rhys Walters and George Hall were all named on the bench.
George Byers – the Vale captain
First-half
In a must-win encounter, Vale were trailing at the break and their hopes of League One survival were looking even more remote.
It was a dull, low key start to the game which was played in pouring rain. Vale had the first clear chance on 17 minutes. However, Jayden Stockley shot well over after Johnson’s low pass had found him in the box. Another dangerous ball from Johnson was palmed over two minutes later. There was a similar move from Amos on 21 minutes to palm away Bloxham’s cross.
Blackpool then carved through a static Vale defence and found the net on 24 minutes but it was flagged offside. However, they did score moments later when Bloxham took advantage of yet more poor defending to find the net via a deflection and the post. It was just the start Vale didn’t need.
The home fans were getting increasingly frustrated as the side looked flat and short of ideas. There were shouts for a penalty when Croasdale appeared to be bundled over in the box but they were turned down. Meanwhile, Ashworth escaped with just a yellow after a high boot on Clark. However, Husbands was shown a straight red after a wild lunge on Croasdale on the eve of half-time.
Apart from that one Stockley chance Vale had been largely toothless and face a huge task in the second-half. Can they make their one man advantage tell?
Half-time: Port Vale 0-1 Blackpool
Jayden Stockley – missed a good chance
Second-half
The Valiants turned it around in the second-half as goals from Stockley, Byers, Headley, Cole and Curtis saw them record only their fourth win of the season.
Vale made two changes at the break but it was the ten men with the first chance as Fletcher’s header went just wide on 48 minutes. Vale’s first chance fell to Shipley, who was set up by Cole but his effort deflected wide. There was a further chance for Stockley, who headed over Hall’s cross. There were then appeals for another penalty as Stockley went down in the box.
The renewed pressure had revived the home crowd and Stockley headed home Curtis’ corner on 54 minutes to put Vale level. It was the forward’s first goal of the season and a thumping near post header.
That goal inspired Vale and Hall had another effort blocked. However, Vale turned the game around on 58 minutes. Cole robbed a defender on the flank and his low cross found captain Byers in the box who drove the ball home. Cole then found the side netting on 61 minutes as Vale looked to make the game safe.
An enterprising run by the impressive Curtis almost set up Cole for the third but he miskicked. However, the win was sealed on 73 minutes when sub Headley bustled past a defender and his low shot beat the keeper to put Vale two goals ahead.
Vale continued to create chances as the game entered the closing minutes. Devante Cole made it four with a header from another excellent Ronan Curtis corner. In stoppage time, Curtis scored an emphatic fifth with a great turn and finish in the box. That put the seal on a stunning Vale second-half comeback.
Man advantage aside, Vale had done brilliantly to turn the game around and this comprehensive win will do their confidence the world of good as well as increase hopes of mounting a bid for survival.
Full-time: Port Vale 5-1 Blackpool
Jaheim Headley – crucial third goal
Analysis and Opinion
The match
It was the classic game of two halves with the red card crucial to the outcome.
In the first-half, there seemed to be only two problems with this Vale side – they couldn’t score and they couldn’t defend. Both issues were to the fore as the Valiants created few chances but always looked vulnerable at the back.
However, in the second-half Vale solved that. The defence switched to a four, which suited the team better and George Hall and Ronan Curtis were introduced as creative outlets to increase the goal threat. It was suddenly a different game.
It’s been clear that the side have been lacking confidence and it was great to see the side relax and start to play some good football once the goals went in.
The players
Much of Vale’s better play in the first-half came down the left where Marvin Johnson was prominent. Hall’s arrival at the break helped provide delivery down the right flank too.
The introduction of Curtis and Hall at the break (along with the man advantage) meant Vale had many more chances in the second 45 minutes. As a result, strikers Cole and Stockley were much more involved and Vale looked a much more dangerous outfit. It was good to see Jayden Stockley break his duck for this season while trike partner Devante Cole was also impressive as he set up the second and scored the fourth.
A word too for Cameron Humphreys whose classy play can sometimes go unmentioned, Ronan Curtis who was lively as soon as he entered the field of play and Jaheim Headley who scored a calm third goal.
There’s still (minor) issues – Jordan Shipley’s set-piece delivery was poor (Curtis improved on that in the second-half) and keeper Amos’ kicking can be wayward at times. However, those points may be nit picking as overall it was good to see the team perform so well, particularly in the second-half.
Star player
Difficult to judge but Marvin Johnson did well on the left. Let’s hope he is over his injury issues as he is clearly the classiest left wingback Vale possess. Devante Cole also had a great game with a goal and an assist.
Summing up in a sentence
Managerless Vale bounce back in style to keep their hopes alive.
Match stats
Team: Amos – John (G.Hall), Heneghan, Humphreys – Clark, Croasdale (Curtis), Byers, Shipley, Johnson (Headley) – Stockley (Faal), Cole (Walters)
Subs: Gauci, Debrah
Yellows: Croasdale, Byers, Shipley, Faal
Reds: none
Goals: Stockley 54, Byers 58, Headley 73, Cole 86, Curtis 94
Attendance: 7,541 (1,431 visitors)
Season stats
Your thoughts…
Debate the match on the dedicated match thread in the OVF forum
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As I keep saying Curtis involved in 4 of 5 goals .
PLAY HIM
First half we played like we have been playing. With a player being sent off and us going to back four. 2 changes we look a better team, and I think we will match anybody in this league, but have I’ve said be for we need better defenders and attackers and 2 good midfield players to compete at the top, but if we can keep this up we should stay in this league. Solets hope we can beat barnsley and kick on
First half was same old huff but no puff. Sending off clearly changed the game. George Hall was fantastic and as stated Johnsons crossing was on the money. Thought Stockley improved and his goal gave him a new lease of life along with the rest of the team. A great result in the circumstances but let’s remember when it was a level playing field we were second best. Maybe this is the moment that turns our fortunes around Let’s hope so. I for one “am feeling glad all over tonight”. 2026 the year of the comeback?
Go build on that was now lads, we can do this 😉
I still can’t believe how they just changed into another gear, there was some great player combinations there at times , I have to believe we can escape relegation now, and we have a game in hand, I still do not think Byers should be captain, he got away with a few mistakes today, like passing to the opposition players.COME ON VALE YOU CAN DO THE GREAT SURVIVAL TRICK, YOU DO IT.
Highly satisfying and long overdue win, but still effectively 10 points adrift of a safe position. It’s an enormous squad, but you would think that there has to be enough quality to sift and sort a decent and competitive League 1 starting eleven. That’s the task of the next manager, with time at a premium to assess all the players who he’ll inherit. Today’s scoreline is a morale boost, but the massive task ahead calls for a highly experienced head.