Port Vale kick of the match on the back of their 2-2 draw. Robbie Williams was in attendance to see a great come back.
Colon makes a welcome return to the team. First shot of the games goes to Wes Mcdonald from Walsall a well worked run into the box, he gains himself some space and puts his laces through the ball, but the vale back line recover enough to block it for a corner.
Vale break from the Walsall corner and Conlon makes a run on the left hand wing, skipping past the defence, but the defender manages to just get in front of the cross to knock it out for a corner. Had the defender not got there in time that would have been a very dangerous ball across the box with Pope waiting.
With 12 minutes gone, Vale are playing a lot of the game through the right wing, Walsall are aware of this and have started to bring a number of the players over that side, with two players covering Amoo he is having to show his pace and skill to do anything at the moment.
On the 20th Minute Amoo on the right manages to out … his marker to deliver a cross, unfortunately too close to the keeper who is able to collect.
After 30 minutes gone there is little to report in terms of action, there have been a few incidents and good play but its mainly been playing the long ball for both sides. Both teams are doing well at the back and killing off a lot of the dangerous play. This is however, makes the game lack any goal mouth action.
Pope is taken out in the middle of the pitch, but the referee appears reluctant to bring out his cards and his only stops play for the free kick. The supports are now starting to sing, you don’t know what you are doing at the referee. Although I think this is a little harsh, but having said that Walsall players do seem to be going down very easy and the referee will blow for a free kick when its simply the vale player being the stronger of the two.
Callum Evans with a distance shot, unfortunately for all but Walsall its ends up closer to the corner flag than the goal. He might think twice about taking another.
Montano goes down after a tackle, but he appears to get no sympathy from Pope, who can be seen shouting at him to get back on his feet.
Montona is back in the action a few minutes later though as a vale corner is cleared to him, he hits it low with power on his left foot, its goal bound, but Legge gets in the way and knocks it out for a corner. Had legge not been there, I am certain that would have been Vales first goal of the game. Something that the game appears to need to liven it up.
With less that a minute gone Walsall run down the left wing and deliver a cross to Elijah Adebayo who smashes it over the line from close range. Vale were caught asleep there. The Vale defense are standing around looking at each other wondering what happened.
Substitution Callum Evans off for Mark Cullen, it would appear that John Askey wants to add more attacking options as there has been limited play upfront for Vale.
Vale have take the game up a gear with a number of attacks, but they have still not been able to get a clear shot on goal with most being a weak header or a long distance shot that has either sailed wide or lacked power by the time its reached the goal. As I am writing this Conlon takes another distance shot that’s wide and lacks power.
Walsall players have started to waste time by going down if they are touched and they then stay down for as long as possible. The Vale players and supporters are starting to get frustrated and with 30 minutes to go this could be a very long and frustrating half a hour.
Nathan Smith jumps for a ball and appears to be body slammed by Josh Gordon, but to Smudges credit, he is back on his feet straight away.
With 76 minutes gone, Vale with another substitution, Ritchie Bennet on for Will Atkinson. Its clear that Vale think they have a chance to bring this level if not win it. With Vales first attack from the substitution they have 4 running forward.
Red card for Conlon as he jumped for the ball he used his elbow. There was nothing else that the referee could have done. The ball was in the middle of the pitch and there was no need to be getting sent off in them positions.
Vale pushed forward and made a number of shots, but nothing that really tested the keeper.
This is a match that Vale can forget, game had 0-0 written all over it and had Vales defence not fell asleep early on, then that’s exactly how it would have ended. The referee did not have the best of games as he failed to deal with a number of issues on the pitch. Having said that there was no excuse for the lack of chances. The game did not ever get going and its one to scratch off and move onto the next game. The only thing I was impressed with was the beard of Stuart Sinclaire, which kind of shows how little went on in the match.This is Vales first loss at home.
Attendance 5079 With 655 travelling fans
