Match Thread: Northampton Town v Port Vale

[Smugsy]

TBH not a lot happened in the first half hour apart from a chance dragged wide by Worrell and a bit of huffing and puffing from the home team. They started to build a bit of pressure then but the Vale defended well and a pretty uneventful games ended goalless at half time. Northampton upped their game at the start of the second half with Brown making a couple of fine saves including one low to his left which I'm not sure how he stopped. Mr Pope replaced the ineffective, to put it politely, Bennett and made a immediate and massive difference. Suddenly we had an outlet and someone to feed off and a short while after Monty put a cross shot just wide, Wozzer popped up to finish off a fine move with a bullet header from a yard out. The Cobblers pushed again but the Valiant wall stood strong and the huge win was sealed.

Can we do it? I don't know but we creep closer week on week and for the first time in ages, we have a bit of depth in the squad with Smith, Manny and Pope on the bench and Taylor still to come back. The only team above us we've not beaten this season is Colchester and that could be rectified next week. So why not us? Even if we don't make it, it's been a great and remarkable season especially considering the last three years of hurt and worry we all had to endure.

[Valist]

Who thought when Smith went off injured at Swindon he wouldn't come straight back in when fit? Brisley will keep his spot on Tuesday after that performance. Another poor signing from Macclesfield 

From Notts Co

[Valist]

Missing Smith, Taylor, Manny, and Amoo, we've gone to a team unbeaten at home in all competitions since the 2nd October, and unbeaten home or away since Boxing Day, and kept a clean sheet and returned with 3 points.
With the aforementioned quartert likely to return soon, everything is coming together nicely; genuine compeitition for places, a good team spirit, a good run of form, and something to fight for.
Today we had spells under the cosh but Brown did his job with a string of good, but not outstanding, saves. Back 4, especially Brisley, were spot on. The organisation of our defence and system is superb, and testament to the good coaching being done day in, day out.
Everyone else did their jobs and we took our chance, with MOTM Conlon sending in a peach for Worrall to nod home, continuing Tom's excellent form. Subs were made at the correct time for maximum effect.
Cobblers were direct and had chances but had Lines on the bench and didn't get Adams or Marshall involved enough; we did our homework and Legge and Brisley were content to head away incessant long throws and corners.
We might still fall short, but an excellent day and we're right up there. Exciting months ahead. Askey is our king. UTV
 

Well said

[Iron Curtain]

5 minutes ago, Valist said:

4 hours ago, JRC said:

Who thought when Smith went off injured at Swindon he wouldn't come straight back in when fit? Brisley will keep his spot on Tuesday after that performance. Another poor signing from Macclesfield 

From Notts Co

He used to play for Macc early in his Career... as was pointed out and derided by the usual folk when they were in their “Askey doesn’t know what he is doing phase”

[Iron Curtain]

Form table based on the last 6 games

[Jacko51]

That table is wrong.  In our last 6 we've won 3 (N'ton, Exeter, Orient) drawn 1 (Salford) and lost 2 (Swindon, Morecambe).

[Iron Curtain]

25 minutes ago, Jacko51 said:

That table is wrong.  In our last 6 we've won 3 (N'ton, Exeter, Orient) drawn 1 (Salford) and lost 2 (Swindon, Morecambe).

Ahhhh... well spotted.

I think it’s because its based on “matchdays”

That table is Matchdays 27 -32

meaning the Morcambe defeat isn’t considered as it was technically Matchday 26 but was postponed because of the Man City Game, and the Stevenage win (Matchday 27) is included instead.

A slight misrepresentation... but it’s nice to see us third so I’m taking it 😂

[Warren]

Very good win today. Team deserve a lot of credit. We are going to be playing no easy games and mid to upper table for the rest of the season. So that can be good because they all become 6 point games. Today stopped Northampton above us getting any points whilst we got three. The same opportunity exists with Colchester next weekend.

[MelbourneValiant]

Brilliant 3 pts which I didn't expect. Well done boys.

[darren1810]

Great win withstanding the Wimbledon type tactics from a team who didn't have a plan B. 

Brown, Legge and Brisley immense. 

Can I just have a moan, now to put it politely yesterday wasn't one of Bennetts' finest moments in a Vale shirt.

However there was a woman a few rows behind me who I've seen at quite a few away games who spent the majority of the first half slagging him off and criticising at every single opportunity. It was embarrassing and I was in the mind to tell her to shut her trap but it isn't worth the mither. Any time the ball went near him she was vitriolic. 

Obviously to travel to these places takes commitment but it's better to support the squad as a whole rather than spending your afternoon wrapped up on one particular player. 

Bennett was very poor yesterday but she was simply pathetic 

[Rudgiesflatcap]

8 hours ago, Iron Curtain said:

Ahhhh... well spotted.

I think it’s because its based on “matchdays”

That table is Matchdays 27 -32

meaning the Morcambe defeat isn’t considered as it was technically Matchday 26 but was postponed because of the Man City Game, and the Stevenage win (Matchday 27) is included instead.

A slight misrepresentation... but it’s nice to see us third so I’m taking it 😂

Just goes to prove the saying 

there’s 

lies

damn lies

and statistics 🤣🤣

brilliant to see we are doing so well in the new  era. KTF. 

[Howjy04]

1 hour ago, darren1810 said:

Great win withstanding the Wimbledon type tactics from a team who didn't have a plan B. 

Brown, Legge and Brisley immense. 

Can I just have a moan, now to put it politely yesterday wasn't one of Bennetts' finest moments in a Vale shirt.

However there was a woman a few rows behind me who I've seen at quite a few away games who spent the majority of the first half slagging him off and criticising at every single opportunity. It was embarrassing and I was in the mind to tell her to shut her trap but it isn't worth the mither. Any time the ball went near him she was vitriolic. 

Obviously to travel to these places takes commitment but it's better to support the squad as a whole rather than spending your afternoon wrapped up on one particular player. 

Bennett was very poor yesterday but she was simply pathetic 

Bennnett was poor, ,agreed, but the stick he gets is not acceptable.He appears to be becoming a figure of  fun.Some  so called fans should study the stats when Bennett has started.I suppose the same person was shouting “unlucky Tom”  when he should have thrown himself at Monty’s cross shot.I thought our best holdup player in the second half was Wind.WHEn did he sign?

[Birches Head Fred]

Great win withstanding the Wimbledon type tactics from a team who didn't have a plan B. 
Brown, Legge and Brisley immense. 
Can I just have a moan, now to put it politely yesterday wasn't one of Bennetts' finest moments in a Vale shirt.
However there was a woman a few rows behind me who I've seen at quite a few away games who spent the majority of the first half slagging him off and criticising at every single opportunity. It was embarrassing and I was in the mind to tell her to shut her trap but it isn't worth the mither. Any time the ball went near him she was vitriolic. 
Obviously to travel to these places takes commitment but it's better to support the squad as a whole rather than spending your afternoon wrapped up on one particular player. 
Bennett was very poor yesterday but she was simply pathetic 

If it's the 'lady' who was stood at the rear of the stand then I know what you mean.
Admittedly Bennett was poor but she was awful, even to the point of hoping he was seriously injured when he went down in the first half.
I know she goes a lot of away games (she could for all I know go them all) and she's entitled to her opinion but it really was way over the top.
I wonder how she had reacted at the recent home game when Bennett notched 2 goals.
I will admit that Pope coming on allowed us to move up the pitch and was probably the reason we got the goal but to castigate Bennett as she was doing was in my view disgraceful, especially as assuming Pope is up for another ban then Bennett will be our main striker for a couple of games at least.
As for Northampton, I'm glad I don't have to watch that every week.
Well done Vale, a cracking hard caught victory.

[Iron Curtain]

2 hours ago, darren1810 said:

However there was a woman a few rows behind me who I've seen at quite a few away games who spent the majority of the first half slagging him off and criticising at every single opportunity. It was embarrassing and I was in the mind to tell her to shut her trap but it isn't worth the mither. Any time the ball went near him she was vitriolic. 

It’s embarrassing and she should be ashamed!

The most ironic point of this is that if she ever came face to face with Bennett she would ask for a photo and crawl up his arse.

 

[old sage]

  I do wonder why JA continually chooses to select Bennett ahead of Pope when it is clear as day that Popey is far more effective.

  I didn't go to the game yesterday but on the radio I continually heard comments like' Bennet has been penalised for pulling his opponents shirt' and 'Poor control by Bennett'. I'm not a Bennett hater and would never abuse the bloke during a game but it is simply that Pope is a far better and proven front man. Playing as an isolated one up front striker when good control and the ability to hold on to the ball is vital shows that Richie Bennett isn't the man for the job.

 If the manager is so concerned about Pope's ability to last the full game (though heaven knows why that should be the case as I haven't ever seen him blowing like a 'dray horse' because of a lack of fitness) why does he not start with the more effective player and replace him if he runs out of steam?

 To me we are starting too many games at a disadvantage by starting with Bennett when Popey is fit.