Luton Town Vs Port Vale Saturday 22nd September 2007

Port Vale's bad run continued as they slumped to defeat at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. The pressure on Foyle now was increased as the teams performance left a lot to be desired by the travelling supporters, who let their frustrations be heard at the end of the game, yet again calling for Foyle's head. As it happens Vale should not of expected a result at Luton, the last time they won there was 1898, so the odds were against them from the start.

Foyle bowed to the crowd and started with Luke Rodgers alongside Callum Willock with McGoldrick playing just behind them in a three pronged attack, leaving Tudor on the bench. But the lack of width played into Luton's hand's, and Vale were run ragged from start to finish. To add to Foyle's despair his best player from recent weeks was sent off, leaving the next few week's looking increasingly difficult to see us picking points up from.

Luton started the better side and almost scored in the third minute after Goodall met Bell's corner, but Anyon saved well from the header. Goodall was a constant thorn in Vales side, and his through ball on 25 minutes had Anyon working again, when a through ball to Spring forced another save from the Vale keeper. Vale's only effort of the first half came when McGoldrick cut in and shot from 25 yards out, but his effort flew wide of the post. Vale fell behind on 29 minutes when veteran Paul Furlong n=met a cross from Bell and he volleyed home from 8 yards out leaving Anyon no chance.

Vale almost fell further behind when a Bell free kick was sent across the Vale goal line before Morgan blasted over the bar. But worse was to come for Vale on 43 minutes. Referee gave Vale a free kick for a foul on Whitaker, but Vale were prevented from taking it quickly. Westwood took it upon himself to dispute the decision by the ref as her gestured to the referee, but the ref was not amused, and sent the player off for foul and abusive language.

Westwood stood his ground to argue the decision, but that only made things worse as tempers both on and off the pitch flared, but this left the Vale with a mighty uphill task. Harsley switched to right back as McGregor went to center half in an attempt to fill the gap, but the second half was going to be a long one as the players trudged off to the away fans chants of 'Foyle Out'!

Half Time Score Luton Town 1 - 0 Port Vale

The second half saw not much change from the first half, with Vale on the back foot from the off. Harsley was replaced by Miller on 53 minutes as Luton began to show their dominance over Vale's 10 men. Furlong and Morgan continued to pressure the Vale back line, and Anyon had to scramble to save a weak header from Furlong. Vale then had a spot of luck when the referee disallowed what would of been Furlong and Luton's second goal for a foul in the area, Furlong disputed and was booked for his comments, funny how Westwood was sent off for his. Vale the brought on Richards for Willock on 61 minutes to try and give McGoldrick and Rodgers some help. Rodgers again had looked the only Vale player likely to score and his 20 yard shot was Vale's first of the half on 68 minutes. But it was again Luton who looked more dangerous, and efforts from Spring and Edwards were both saved well from Anyon. Tudor replaced McGoldrick on 71 minutes, but Vale were still looking more likely to concede than score themselves. The inevitable happened on 85 minutes when a sweeping move met Bell 25 yards out, and his shot fired passed Anyon into the goal off the post. Late on Vale got their first corner of the match on 90 minutes, and Tudors fine ball was met by Rodgers and headed past the keeper from close range for his fourth goal of the season. Vale threw everything forward in injury time but it was too little to late for the Valiant's.

Final Score Luton Town 2 - 1 Port Vale

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Mark McGregor
4. Ashley Westwood Sent Off 43 minutes
5. Paul Edwards
6. Paul Harsley (Justin Miller 53)
7. Craig Rocastle
8. Danny Whitaker
9. Callum Willock (Marc Richards 64 Booked 74)
10. Luke Rodgers
11. David McGoldrick (Shane Tudor 77)

Subs Not Used

• Robin Hulbert
• Jason Talbot

Today's Attendance: 6,084

Man Of The Match: George Pilkington

League One Standings

22. Millwall Pl 7 W 1 D 2 L 4 GF 3 GA 8 Pts 5

23. Port Vale Pl 7 W 1 D 2 L 4 GF 3 GA 8 Pts 5

24. Walsall Pl 7 W 1 D 2 L 4 GA 5 GA 11 Pts 5

After the game came a shock for the Vale fans who had called for Foyles head throughout the game, when keeper Joe Anyon was called over by a group of disgruntled Vale fans. But their comments fell on deaf ears as Anyon, one of Vales best players in recent weeks and a target for several Premiership clubs defended his under fire boss. Anyon said " The fans were shouting Foyle out and this that and the other and I shouldn't of got sucked in to it but I wanted to get mine and the players point across. They should try and do his job and see how hard it is working with what he has got. Its not like we are like the Forest's of this league who can go out and buy players. Forest were below us and underachieving and have players earning £7000 a week. We have players on £700 and £800 so its a totally different ball game. The manager has tried to bring players in, but you can only work with what you have got at a club like Vale "

Under-fire boss Foyle said after the match " We worked really hard in training all week but when we got on the pitch we just froze. We know what we want to do but it's just not happening for us at the moment. One or two didn't do the job's they were told too, but the referee didn't help matters. We have had some terrible ref's this season, but you can't talk to them as it's a waste of time. He sent Ashley off for saying something and if you appeal he may get a five match ban instead of three, so it's not worth it. The game changed after the sending off and we had a mountain to climb. "

This leaves Vale in 23rd spot in the league and deep in relegation trouble. This has been Vale's lowest league place since Foyle and Bratt took over three and a half years ago. Although only seven matches into the season, Vale have not once looked like getting anything out of the games they have lost, so the defeats were from poor performances, not from trying but being unlucky. The manager is quick to blame the players for their lack of 'carrying out his instructions' but if his instruction are bad then they will be playing poorly to his tactics. Anyon was right to defend his boss, all good players will do that. But his comments about the lack of funds being to blame baffle me! Foyle brings in the players with his limited budget, but when done and said all it his him that has signed them, so if they are not good enough then he is to blame. I feel for Foyle as he is loyal to the Vale and was a true hero as a player, but not all players make good managers, and Foyle's tactics are confusing enough for the fans let alone the players. Chairman Bill Bratt has got to take the lead in this matter, as if we slip into League Two then the gate's will drop to less than they are now, with no Forest or Leeds turning up to boost the attendances. This club is better than the position it is in, and the player's are suffering from stage fright it seems. I think if the fans got behind them on Saturday against Southend they would respond, but if not they will falter as they did against Forest. If we lose again, then Bratt should consider showing Foyle the door and maybe bringing in somebody like Mike Newell to try and get us out of the bottom half of the table. A well known manager may attract better players in rather that a fading fans favorite.