Port Vale Message

Its been a while folks, and all will be revealed soon, but as you can probably guess, this blog has taken a bit of a break, mainly because well for want of a better word, we were crap last year!
By now you will of gathered we have been relagated to League Two, and we have o build for the future there and try to gain promotion at the first attempt. I will attempt to bring you the rest of the season results and final league placings sometime before next season, and hopefully, next years blog will be a promotion story!

See you all soon

PVFC Forever!

Sinnott Signs Another New Player

Port Vale's new striker Tobias Mikaelsson believes he can follow Aston Villa team-mate Chris Herd's example and become a success at Vale Park. Mickaelson, aged 19, became Vale's second loan signing from Villa in eight days when he joined for a month this afternoon. The Swedish centre-forward, who has scored eight goals in 10 appearances for Villa's reserves this season, goes straight into the Vale squad for Saturday's game at League One leaders Swansea. The teenager hopes he can bridge the gap from reserve to first-team football as successfully as Herd after the Australian starred in Vale's 3-1 win over Millwall last Saturday.
Mikaelsson said: "I spoke to Chris about Port Vale and he said good things about the club. That made a big impact on my decision. I think he has shown that he can play at this level. First of all I want to see how I can cope with first-team football here in England. Hopefully I can help the team score goals. I've seen the table and we need a few points to stay in the league."
The Gothenburg-born striker is out of contract at Villa at the end of the season having moved to the Premier League giants from Sweden three years ago. He said: "I am a link-up player. I like to think of myself as an intelligent player, with decent technique on the ball, good movement and a bit of pace. I am quite tall, so that helps as well. I am very pleased to be at Port Vale. I need first-team experience now and I think this is a very good opportunity."
Vale manager Lee Sinnott said: "Tobias is top scorer in Aston Villa's reserves. I have seen him a couple of times, as I had Chris Herd, and he is the right player at the right time for us."
Mickaelson joins three trialists given a chance also by Sinnott this week. He will be joined in training with Alan Smith, Mark Byrnes and Matt Deegan.

Vale Sign Chasetown Duo

Port Vale today signed a striker and centre-half from their FA Cup conquerors Chasetown.
Forward Kyle Perry, aged 21, and 23-year-old defender Chris Slater have joined Vale on 18-month contracts for an undisclosed nominal fee. The deals also include "substantial" sell-on clauses. They caught the eye of Vale boss Lee Sinnott when playing starring roles in Chasetown's shock FA Cup victory over the Valiants last month.
Vale chairman Bill Bratt said: "They were impressive in the FA Cup games against us. Both have played for league clubs and we are confident they can make the step back up to this grade."
Perry, a graphic artist who was resigning from his job this afternoon, is a product of Walsall's youth scheme. He signed for Chasetown from Willenhall Town in the summer. He said: "This is a dream come true after being released by Walsall at the age of 19. For a club like Port Vale to come in for us is unreal."
Slater, a block paver, had trials at Tranmere, Blackpool and Walsall on being released by Wolves before joining Chasetown. He added: "It has always been my dream to get back into league football. Hopefully we can help to turn things around and start going in the right direction."

Rocastle Loaned Out

Vale midfielder Craig Rocastle has joined League One rivals Gillingham on an initial one-month loan. The 26-year-old has failed to nail down a first-team place at Vale Park since joining on a free transfer from Oldham last summer. His departure should give manager Lee Sinnott more room for manoeuvre as he looks to further boost the Vale squad.

Vale Swoop For Duo

Vale today completed a double swoop for 18-year-old Aston Villa midfielder Chris Herd and 25-year-old Scunthorpe defender Dave Mulligan. Herd has joined the League One strugglers on a month’s loan while Vale have taken over Mulligan’s contract until the end of the season.
Herd is highly rated at Villa, where he has been offered a new two-year contract ahead of his current three-year deal expiring in the summer. But he is looking forward to gaining valuable first-team experience at Vale Park, and looks likely to make his senior debut during Saturday’s home game with Millwall. He said: "It is really good to be here and I am looking forward to the chance to play first-team football. I only heard yesterday about Port Vale’s interest, but I was looking to come out on loan. I want to gain some experience here and help get Vale out of the relegation zone."
Herd can play all across the midfield and at right-back, giving Vale boss Lee Sinnott some welcome options. Vale were competing with another League One club and two League Two teams for his signature, but the Melbourne-born player had no doubts about joining Vale.
He added: "Port Vale came in for me first. I had a look at them and decided I wanted to come here. I am up to the challenge and am looking forward to helping them out."
Mulligan, a New Zealand international, is know as a right-back, but can play anywhere in defence. His last game was at the end of a seven-match loan spell for League Two Grimsby Town – a 2-1 home defeat by Chester City on October 2. He has previously played for Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers.

Vale Lose Out On Laird

Port Vale's on-loan midfielder Marc Laird is set to sign for Millwall, dashing the Valiants' hopes of landing him on a long-term contract. Vale manager Lee Sinnott says, barring a change of heart, Laird will sign for the Lions today. The news is a huge blow for the manager, who has been impressed by Laird since the 21-year-old Scot joined Vale on loan from Manchester City in November. Sinnott said: "It is 99 per cent certain Marc will sign for Millwall. We did everything we could to get him to sign, that's something his agent has said as well. We made the offer as competitive as we could and put Marc in a quandry by what we offered. We worked damn hard on it, but it seems it is not meant to be. Marc is a lovely lad and I know he was torn. He has enjoyed his time at Port Vale and is the kind of player we are looking to keep in terms of both his age and his ability. But I think we stretched Millwall as far as we can."
An attraction for Laird at Millwall was his former Manchester City coach, Kenny Jackett, is now boss of the Lions. Should he complete a deal at the New Den, Laird could line-up against the Valiants for Millwall at Vale Park on Saturday.

Pair Leave Vale

Striker Calum Willock has turned down a new contract at Port Vale to sign for Blue Square Premier Club Stevenage. Vale manager Lee Sinnott revealed the news after watching his side blow a 2-0 half-time lead on their way to a 3-2 defeat at Carlisle this afternoon. Sinnott has also revealed he has decided not to renew midfielder Mark Salmon's loan from Wolves.

Willock's departure, after five months at Vale, makes signing a striker even more of a priority for Sinnott. He said he was keen to keep the former Brentford hit-man at Vale Park, but the deciding factor was Willock's desire to be nearer his family in the south. Willock, who has been on a short-term deal at Vale since August, decided to turn down a new 18-month contract because he wants to be closer to his three-year-old daughter in London. The striker said his decision was no reflection on Vale or Sinnott, but he felt he had to put his daughter first. He said: "I have enjoyed playing for Vale and scoring goals. But in the six months I have been here I have only seen my daughter three times, and I didn't see her over Christmas. I had to consider that, if I did sign, I would have been away for another 18 months. Myself and her mother are not together, if we were then perhaps we could have worked out some arrangement. I just want to be there more often. She is three-and-a-half and it is an age I don't want to miss."

Carlisle United Vs Port Vale 5th January 2008

Lee Sinnott sets great store by statistics but, for the sake of his sanity, shouldn’t dwell on the fact his team are now Vale’s worst since three points for a win was introduced 27 years ago.
The previous holders of the dubious honour were the class of 1983-84, who were relegated from League One (then Division Three) after new boss John Rudge failed to halt a slide which had started under John McGrath. That side, remarkably, managed only six points before Christmas. However, a mid-season rally lifted them to 19 points from 25 games, two better than the current squad have managed from the same number of matches. It is becoming ever harder to believe this team won’t share the fate of the 1983-84 side and end the term with relegation to the basement division.
Sinnott is planning major changes by January 31, but being nine points adrift with more games played than their rivals is fast making his task mission impossible. There would have been at least some reason for hope had they claimed a win, or even a point, from Saturday’s trip to promotion-chasing Carlisle after leading 2-0 at the break. The manner of the defeat was cruel to the Vale faithful, particularly as their side also blew a two-goal lead on their way to a 3-2 defeat in this fixture last season. Back then, the possibility of relegation was merely a cloud on the horizon. A year on and Vale are getting soaked to the skin. However, their failure to win is not for want of trying.

Sinnott was tearing his hair out at the defending, but resisted the temptation to single out individuals. He said: “The easiest thing I could have done over the last nine weeks or so is come up to you gentlemen, or say in the dressing room, ‘you are a *^!@**! and you have cost me the goal. It is the easiest thing in the world to do, I have been there and been on the other side of the fence. “Players know when they make mistakes, and I knew when I had made a mistake. “But it is counter-productive for a manager to come in and say ‘I am big and hard’. It has always been expected in football to say to a player, ‘right, you are the problem, you have cost me and cost everyone else’. “No. It is about knowing how to win games and set up a winning mentality. To set up that mentality, a manager can’t make it ‘me, me, me’, which means ‘I didn’t make a mistake’, he is the problem and he cost us.
“Successful teams are all in it together. They have an ethos which is a bit like the Three Musketeers – ‘one for all and all for one.’
There wasn’t much of the Three Musketeers about Vale’s second-half collapse, although there was a certain swashbuckling manner about the way they played for 15 minutes or so after taking the lead through Paul Harsley on 28 minutes.

Despite having the wind in their favour, Vale had started nervously, but seen Carlisle blow their only clear chance of the half, on 24 minutes, when the unmarked Danny Graham planted a six-yard header wide. Vale made them pay with their first dangerous attack as Mark Salmon wriggled free before playing in Adam Eckersley down the left. He crossed beyond the back post where the ball was heading for a goal-kick until Danny Glover acrobatically hooked it back across goal. Keeper Kieren Westwood was stranded and Harsley did the rest as he swept home from two yards. Like a shy teenager snogged by the prom queen, Vale’s confidence rocketed as they began to believe they weren’t there just to make up the numbers.
They started to pass the ball around and, although their second goal flattered them on the balance of the half, no-one could argue with its quality. Jeff Smith’s corner was hammered clear to Mark Salmon on the right of midfield and he held off his marker before sending a 40-yard crossfield ball over the last defender and into Danny Whitaker’s path. The midfielder stepped around the keeper before drilling the ball, left-footed, inside the post.

The two-goal lead was all the more remarkable as Vale had only one fit senior striker, Glover, who played as a lone striker with Whitaker just behind in a 4-5-1 formation. However, the scoreline didn’t save them from a half-time rocket from Sinnott. He said: “I had a go at my players at half-time. We found ourselves 2-0 up, but I thought we were fortunate to be in that position. “But I said to them, ‘maybe because of the way games have gone lately, you are getting your bit of luck’. But I said, ‘if you perform in the second half in the way you did in the first, you will lose this game’.”
He didn’t take any pleasure in being proved correct, particularly as his prediction began to come true just five minutes after the break when Zigor Aranalde’s long throw was flicked on at the near post for substitute Luke Joyce to bundle over the line. Vale did have a chance to go 3-1 up, on 57 minutes, when Salmon slid the ball through to Glover, but the striker over-ran the ball enough for Westwood to make a brave save. Glover was soon joined up front by a fellow 18-year-old as Sinnott threw centre-half Charlie O’Loughlin into the attack for the final 26 minutes. However, the switch had no time to work as, within a minute, Graham walloped a long ball from just inside his own half and Simon Hackney got goal-side of Mark McGregor.
The ball sat up for the former Nantwich forward, who crashed a volley past Joe Anyon from 16 yards.
Sinnott said: “I thought Charlie would help us from corners, but it was more from open play, so that hopefully the ball wouldn’t keep coming back. That was the last thing we wanted, especially as they had the wind, as we did in the first half. “We wanted him to be more of a physical presence up there, but, let’s face it, the second goal was a long punt from 50 yards. “Their player got behind us and, bang, it was 2-2.”
Carlisle’s winner, four minutes later, wasn’t much more complicated as Joe Garner gathered the ball on the right before sending over a deep cross. Hackney was unchallenged to meet the ball with a left-foot volley, and made no mistake as he hammered the ball back across goal and inside Anyon’s far post from 14 yards.
That appeared to be game over, but Vale rallied and could have snatched a late equaliser on 80 minutes when O’Loughlin met substitute Craig Rocastle’s inswinging free-kick with a glancing header which was turned over by Westwood. The youngster came even closer five minutes from time when he rose to meet McGregor’s cross and sent a header wide, from 12 yards, with Westwood beaten. A narrow defeat away to a side who have won nine of their 11 league home games is no disgrace. However, Vale’s second-half ordeal was more evidence of the problems Sinnott faces.
A look back in the history books does offer some encouragement as the 1983-84 relegation side spent only two years in the basement division before claiming promotion under Rudge and then reaching the Championship in 1989. Those are high standards for Sinnott to try to match. At least the possibility offers some hope in the depth of Vale’s bleakest season in years.

Final Score Carlise United 3 - 2 Port Vale

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot (Charlie O'Laughlin 64)
4. Keith Lowe
5. Mark McGregor
6. Adam Eckersley
7. Marc Salmon (Joe Cardle 77)
8. Paul Harsley (Craig Rocastle 77)
9. Robin Hulbert
10. Danny Glover
11. Danny Whitaker

Subs Not Used

• Chris Martin
• James Lawrie

Todays Attendence: 6,413

Man Of The Match: Marc Salmon

Goodlad Retires

MARK Goodlad will make a final appearance at Vale Park after announcing his retirement today. The 28-year-old goalkeeper will make an emotional farewell to fans by going on the pitch before the home game with Millwall on Saturday, January 12.
The keeper has been forced to quit football after failing to recover from an Achilles injury he suffered away at Bristol City in December, 2006, which has sidelined him since. But after making 247 appearances for Vale in his eight years at the club, he wants his to show his appreciation to the supporters.
He said: “I have had loads of support while I have been injured and have always had a good relationship with the supporters. I will be there to say goodbye and thanks.”
Goodlad has decided against further surgery as specialists were not convinced another operation would save his career. A scan three weeks ago showed the injury has not healed properly, leaving Goodlad to reluctantly retire.
He said: “When I got the MRI results, I sat down with the physio and my family to discuss it. It came down to whether I was comfortable having another operation. I had already tried to come back from one and the surgeon couldn’t tell me another would work. It was a very difficult decision to make. I had a lot of things to assess, but had to look at what was best for me in the long term.”
Vale manager Lee Sinnott said: “Mark has given it a good shot. He has thought about the equation and he has come up with an answer he feels settled with. That is what I have said to him – regardless of anyone else, you have to feel settled with the decision you make.”

Cheltenham Town Vs Port Vale 2nd January 2008

Lee Sinnott could not have been less impressed when the match video was thrust into his hands before his press conference in the Whaddon Road visitors’ dug out.“I’ve seen it all before,” he said, “about 10 times”. The same surely goes for Vale’s 212 travelling supporters who have suffered the same tired old script against Tranmere, Walsall and Luton in the last 18 days.

To summarise: Vale battle hard, Vale miss chances to win, Vale slip further into the mire. The only addition to this re-run was an injury crisis which would have included Sinnott had the manager succumbed to the temptation to repeatedly bang his head on the dug out roof.He is fed up of the hard luck stories, and knows supporters feel the same.“People don’t want to hear this, they want a change in fortunes,” he said.“It is about keeping the faith, but I am as frustrated as I ever have been in my life. I am not being flippant, I will look at it extremely candidly and I will not look at the situation through rose-tinted glasses. “If I may be honest, and Cheltenham won’t appreciate me saying this, I thought there were two poor teams on show this evening. They were two teams who looked where they are.”

This win lifts Cheltenham to within five points of safety, but having seen them home and away, it is hard to believe they will find four worse teams in this division.The same applies to Vale who know they aren’t at the foot of the table after 24 games because of outrageous bad luck. That said, Sinnott’s side should have at least taken a point last night, even without injury victims Marc Laird, Jason Talbot, Luke Rodgers and Calum Willock.But the manager is under no illusions that more reinforcements are needed if his team is to have any chance of hitting the play-off form they now need to get out of trouble.

He said: “The main priority is to get the right players on the pitch. We do have a bit of an injury list and that has been added to. “There is work going on behind the scenes to bring players in, but I can appreciate the frustration, not just to myself, but to the people who have travelled down from Stoke to support Port Vale in the first game of 2008.“They will be travelling back disappointed and wondering, as I am, when it is going to turn.“We have to get the right personnel out on the pitch and take it from there. It is attracting the right kind of people, and people wanting to come to Port Vale. There is a lot of work to be done.”

A measure of Sinnott’s problems was that he ended the game with 18-year-old centre-half Charlie O’Loughlin playing as an emergency centre-forward on his first-team debut.Luke Rodgers’s knee problem and Calum Willock’s hamstring strain may have eased by Saturday’s trip to Carlisle, but Sinnott will be without Mark Richards, who was stretchered off with ankle damage 22 minutes from the end.The striker didn’t have a long history of injuries when he came to Vale Park, but has been plagued with them since. His agony last night was shared by the Vale staff who had seen him be their best player until he was forced off.“I thought he had done very well,” added Sinnott. “I can bracket him into a bit of a Mark Hughes in that he has a little bit of everything.“You want to get those kind of players out on the pitch and yet he plays for the first time in a few weeks and is carried off with 20 minutes to go.“I don’t know if there is a gypsy curse on us at the moment, but we could do with finding out.”

Cursed or not, Vale had the misfortune to face an inspired performance from Cheltenham keeper Shane Higgs, who was easily the game’s outstanding player.However, the 30-year-old was stranded on 22 minutes when a Vale corner pin-balled around the area before it was hammered away. The ball broke down Vale’s left where Steven Gillespie rode two challenges on his way into the area before crossing low for Paul Connor to sweep the ball past Joe Anyon.

Cheltenham could have doubled their lead within a minute after Gillespie turned sharply in the area, but saw his low strike from 12 yards brilliantly pushed away by Anyon.Vale rallied and were denied a leveller when Justin Miller’s 25-yard strike was denied by a flying stop from Higgs on 35 minutes.They came closer on 39 minutes when Miller’s cross from the right was allowed to run by Richards to Danny Whitaker, whose drive was brilliantly turned away by the keeper.That save was matched on 45 minutes when Richards met Danny Glover’s deep cross with a header back across goal which was destined for the inside of the post before Higgs pushed the ball away.Richards’s performance deserved a goal, but instead he got a stretcher on 68 minutes when he fell awkwardly after challenging Higgs for Mark Salmon’s cross.With no strikers on the bench, Richards’s departure meant a return for Joe Cardle, fresh from his five-month loan at Clyde. He was used on the left wing, Mark Salmon on the right, and Danny Whitaker pushed up front to partner Danny Glover. The patched-up side almost levelled on 72 minutes when Cardle’s low 20-yard strike was pushed out by Higgs to Glover. The striker fired goalwards from six yards, but was thwarted by a block from veteran left-back Alan Wright.Vale had little option but to gamble, and so Miller made way for O’Loughlin on 82 minutes as the young defender was thrown up front. He didn’t do a bad job, but Vale were exposed at the back on 93 minutes when Keith Lowe lost possession and Andy Lindegaard played Gillespie through on goal. The striker must have thought he had scored from 12 yards, but was denied by a tremendous one-handed save from Anyon. That gave Vale a second chance which they almost took a minute later when Salmon drilled the ball hard and low through a crowded area. The ball zoomed to Glover who deflected it goalwards from six yards, only to be denied yet again by Higgs.The save will be remembered as crucial if Cheltenham stay up at Vale’s expense on the last day of the season. A more realistic prediction is both these teams are going down unless they make major changes over the next month.

Final Score Cheltenham Town 1 - 0 Port Vale

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington Booked 11 mins
3. Adam Eckersley
4. Justin Miller (Charlie O'Laughlin 82)
5. Keith Lowe
6. Paul Harsley
7. Marc Salmon
8. Robin Hulbert
9. Danny Glover
10. Mark Richards (Joe Cardle 68)
11. Danny Whittaker (Craig Rocastle 86)

Subs Not Used

• Chris Martin
• Luke Prosser

Todays Attendence: 3,221

Man Of The Match: Paul Harsley

Eckersley Signs For Sinnott

PORT Vale have signed Manchester United left-back Adam Eckersley until the end of the season. The 22-year-old impressed in two games on loan for the Valiants in October before his stay was cut short by a knee injury. His arrival on a free transfer comes on the recommendation of assistant manager Dean Glover, who recruited Eckersley while he was caretaker manager. Eckersley becomes manager Lee Sinnott's third signing, following loan deals for Wolves' midfielder Mark Salmon and Manchester City midfielder Marc Laird.
Eckersley showed quality on his Vale debut at home to Brighton, despite being sent off after 79 minutes for a second yellow card.
His arrival signals Sinnott's determination to make major changes to his squad
Sinnott said: "We are delighted to sign Adam. We need to bring in faces and Adam has a good pedigree."

Port Vale Vs Luton Town 29th December 2007

Port Vale will be happy to say goodbye to 2007, but it is becoming more difficult to make a case for them avoiding League Two football in 2008. This defeat was their ninth in 14 home games this season - a sorry run which includes just two victories. Rock bottom of the table, the lowest scorers in the division and now six points adrift of safety. The outlook could hardly be more bleak as Lee Sinnott tries desperately to transform fortunes in the second half of the campaign. The task isn't beyond a manager who led unfashionable Farsley Celtic to three promotions in four years before taking the job. But even the more drilled and resolute side he has produced has won just two of his 12 games in charge.
Once again, Vale deserved more from this game. But having been denied a win by Walsall's injury-time leveller on Boxing Day, they shipped another point here when Matthew Spring rifled home a superb 92nd-minute free-kick. Hot favourites for the drop, Vale's only realistic chance of survival is if Sinnott can make some inspired signings in the January transfer window. A defender, at least one midfielder and a striker are surely needed for a squad who are giving their all, but lack the quality to claim the 33 points from 23 games they need to reach the likely 50-point safety mark. It is also true that Vale have lacked any trace of luck over their last five games. They should have won at Chasetown, beaten Tranmere and Walsall at home and claimed a draw against Luton.
Only their defeat at Nottingham Forest was merited on the balance of play, but every relegated team will have a dozen hard-luck stories to tell. Sinnott was unfortunate to take charge less than three weeks before loans and transfers were barred at the end of November. The market re-opens tomorrow and he will know that only his wheeling and dealing can save Vale from a return to the basement division for the first time since 1986.
He said: "You have to be positive and not buy into the hard luck stories. But there has to be change. I have tried to steer away from that before January 1 because you don't want to be demeaning to the people here. "But without doubt, we need to change. We will be doing our hardest to change things."
January has long looked like being Vale's best hope, but no one could accuse Sinnott of letting things drift until 2008. He has chopped and changed in search of success and, on Saturday, made his most dramatic team selection since four players were axed and George Pilkington dropped as captain after the home draw with Chasetown on December 2. On that occasion, Luke Rodgers was made captain and led the side out at Leeds. Four weeks on and fortune has turned full circle for the striker who found himself left on the bench for the first time since Martin Foyle left in September. Top-scorer Rodgers has scored 10 of Vale's 22 goals, but only one in his last 12 matches. He at least was able to come on as a 64th-minute substitute, unlike Dave McGoldrick who was left out of the 16-man squad completely. McGoldrick's loan from Southampton runs out after the Cheltenham game on Wednesday. But his chances of playing in that, or having his loan extended, must be slim now.
The changes meant a first start for Danny Glover in a front three alongside Calum Willock and the recalled Danny Whitaker. The two tactical changes up front didn't harm the performance, but the two enforced changes in midfield disrupted the balance of the team. Ankle-injury victim Marc Laird was sorely missed, particularly as captain Paul Harsley had to pull out 20 minutes before kick-off with a sickness bug. Robin Hulbert impressed on his recall, but the midfield trio of Hulbert, Craig Rocastle and Mark Salmon failed to fire in atrocious conditions.
The driving rain merely added to the discomfort, but the swirling wind blew both teams' hopes of slick football off course.
The best spell of the game came from Luton in a 15-minute period just before the break when they should have added to Jaroslaw Fujot's early opener. Dave Edwards was denied by a reflex save from Joe Anyon, and Edwards also saw Anyon and Danny Glover scramble away his 12-yard strike before Glover blocked from Fujot. The defending was more impressive than in the third minute when the visitors were awarded a free-kick on the right and Darren Currie swept the ball into the area. Vale allowed the ball to bounce to the back post where Fujot extracted full punishment with a cleanly struck 10-yard volley which gave Anyon no chance.
Luton deserved to be a goal up at the break, but were pegged back in first-half injury time when Whitaker played in Willock on the right of the area. The striker adorned his 12th start of the season with his fourth goal as he steered the ball past the advancing Dean Brill from the edge of the area.


Vale shaded a scrappy second half in worsening conditions and could have taken the lead on 56 minutes when Hulbert crafted a through-ball to Willock behind the defence.
But the ball bobbled just as Willock was about to shoot and, when he did strike it, Brill slid out to save. The opportunity was the best of the half for either side as Vale's fourth consecutive home draw began to appear inevitable. There didn't seem a huge threat when the Hatters won a free-kick 35 yards out in the 92nd minute. But the ball was touched to midfielder Spring, whose stunning strike aquaplaned off the surface on its way just inside Anyon's left-hand post. Walsall's late leveller could be blamed on poor defending, but on this occasion Vale were denied by the brilliance of the goal. Not that this is much consolation for fans, players or Sinnott as they assess an unpromising position at the foot of League One.
The next month should be Vale's busiest of the season as Sinnott sifts through his list of possibles. Manchester United left-back Adam Eckersley, who was on loan at Vale earlier in the season, and Hull winger Ryan France have both been linked with the club.
Sinnott is determined not to reveal his targets, but accepts it may be difficult to keep them all under wraps. He said: "I am sure there will be loads of names floating about. I was told about Port Vale's corridors of power - they seem to have moving eyes in the pictures.
"I won't comment on any names, but feel free to speculate."

Final Score Port Vale 1 - 2 Luton Town

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot
4. Keith Lowe
5. Mark McGregor
6. Robin Hulbert
7. Craig Rocastle (Paul Edwards 78)
8. Marc Salmon (Luke Rodgers 64)
9. Danny Glover
10. Callum Willock
11. David McGoldrick

Subs Not Used

• Chris Martin
• Mark Richards
• Charlie O'Laughlin

Today's Attendence: 4,224

Man Of The Match: Callum Willock

McGoldrick Ends Loan

David McGoldrick has finished his loan spell and returned back to Southampton. After a decent first performance the striker failed to impress Lee Sinnott enough to retain him any longer.

Port Vale Vs Walsall 26th December 2007

LEE Sinnott appeared almost in pain as he attempted to reflect on this festive kick in the chestnuts from Port Vale’s old rivals. The manager’s positive outlook has been a welcome breath of fresh air in a difficult season. But his own grimace and the sympathetic response from both Potteries and Walsall media turned the press room into a Boxing Day gurning contest. This was a worrying state of affairs for those of us who have come to rely on Sinnott’s air of assurance when the temptation has been to start plotting routes to Barnet and beyond. Thankfully, when he finally broke the silence, it became clear he had been struggling to express his fury at his team’s late defending, rather than any helplessness at their failure to win at home since October.
Sinnott could have taken refuge in a lengthy list of excuses, not least of which was he lost three players injured in the opening 45 minutes against the form team of the division.Instead, he identified his team’s failure to defend properly in injury-time as the decisive moment of this game. That is a fault we can put down to naivety or lack of concentration, but which Sinnott is determined to rectify by the time the Valiants entertain Luton on Saturday.
Vale deserved to win this game and would have done so had they stopped old boy Rhys Weston crossing for Michael Ricketts to head home at the far post in the third minute of injury-time. The goal was even more galling for Sinnott as he had changed from two up front to 4-5-1 in injury-time to make sure the 10-man visitors were shut out of the game.
He said: “We changed it to help the players, so Walsall’s full-backs couldn’t advance to deliver a ball from those positions. But, hey presto, they delivered a ball from that exact position and caught us out with the cross to the far post. “There is no doubting my annoyance and obvious disappointment. “It is about knowing how to win a game. What you certainly don’t let happen is to be caught lopsided or caught too far up front. I think that is exactly what we did allow to happen. “We didn’t need to chase the game. Sometimes if you try to get a second goal when you are 1-0 up you can leave gaps. You can equal out numbers by being a little bit cavalier.”
The fact Vale played well enough to have beaten a side who have now set a club record of 10 away games unbeaten merely made this result harder to swallow. However, when they return to training today, the team should take huge encouragement from the fact they outplayed the Saddlers for all the first half and most of the second. If they can keep to this standard – without the giveaway late defending – then League One safety is not an impossible dream.
But their task has been made tougher for Saturday’s home game by the fact Marc Laird, Jason Talbot and Colin Miles are all expected to be out injured. Talbot has been one of Laird’s few rivals for player of the month for December, so to lose both is a cruel blow. Sinnott at least has options to replace Laird, who was forced off on 36 minutes with an ankle injury after a crude challenge from Ricketts. Robin Hulbert, Danny Whitaker or Craig Rocastle could all start in the centre, although the in-form Laird will be a tough act to follow.
However, Sinnott has greater problems at left-back with both his specialists on the injury list. Talbot was forced out on 35 minutes with a wound above his eye which required stitches. His replacement Miles lasted just 10 minutes before injuring his knee in a challenge on Weston.
At least Vale were a goal up before the disruptions, thanks to the fast-maturing Laird. George Pilkington headed clear a free-kick and Laird swept the ball out to Dave McGoldrick before storming into the Walsall half. The Scot was 30 yards out when he collected the ball back from McGoldrick, but steadied himself before hammering the ball low into Clayton Ince’s right-hand corner.

The goal was Vale’s first in five-and-a-half hours and was enough to subdue Walsall and their 1,800 support for the first hour of the game. Ricketts should have done better than head over Peter Sweeney’s cross on 34 minutes, but that was an isolated scare for a Vale side who showed the most belief and purpose. That was thanks in no small part to Paul Harsley, who has been made captain so Luke Rodgers can concentrate on his own game. Harsley helped control the midfield in the first half before switching to left-back when Miles was forced off.
The injuries didn’t help Vale, but Rodgers and Willock both threatened after the break before the game appeared to have swung decisively their way when Walsall were reduced to 10 men.
Fox had been booked for a 38th-minute lunge on Hulbert, so was playing with fire on 68 minutes when he tried to challenge Calum Willock 30 yards out as the striker burst through the defence. Fox tripped Willock and, as the last defender, could have got a straight red rather than the second yellow produced by referee Phil Joslin. Walsall had little option but to throw men forward and should have levelled on 73 minutes when Ricketts blazed over from 12 yards. But Vale looked capable of exploiting gaps at the back and the result would have been put beyond doubt on 88 minutes had Anthony Gerrard not cleared off the line after McGoldrick’s low cross had been deflected past Ince by Edrissa Sonko. Sinnott then flooded his midfield to stop Walsall sending in quality crosses, so could only watch aghast as Weston’s superb delivery was powered home by Ricketts in front of the gleeful travelling fans. Vale’s supporters swallowed their disappointment to applaud their side off, but Sinnott wants points as well as plaudits. He said: “I appreciate it from the team’s point of view. But it doesn’t hide the disappointment I feel that for 90 seconds we couldn’t keep the bleeding ball out of the net when I did everything I could do to help them. “People will say that, as they were down to 10 men, we should have been bossing the game. But Walsall were going to go gung-ho, and to a certain degree they did. “What do we do? Do we chase a second goal with 90 seconds to go and leave ourselves exposed, or do we play with a bit of savvy? “We didn’t play with a bit of savvy, although I tried to help the players in that aspect. “That is what is annoying and frustrating. This is the first game this season where I would kick the cat, but I haven’t got one.”

Final Score Port Vale 1 - 1 Walsall

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot (Colin Miles 35 > Danny Whitaker 45)
4. Keith Lowe
5. Mark McGregor Booked 11 Mins
6. Paul Harsley
7. Marc Laird (Robin Hulbert 36)
8. Marc Salmon
9. David McGoldrick
10. Luke Rodgers
11. Callum Willock

Subs Not Used

• Chris Martin
• Mark Richards

Todays Attendence: 6,029

Man Of The Match: George Pilkington

Nottingham Forest Vs Port Vale 22nd December 2007

PORT Vale couldn’t have worked any harder to leave behind their FA Cup misery, so are entitled to wonder just how much longer they will be made to pay. That December 11 replay at Chasetown cost Vale a third-round tie and presented an unwanted place in the FA Cup story of the season. But of far greater concern to their League One survival battle is the fact it appears to have nobbled their top scorer.
Luke Rodgers doesn’t need reminding he missed two penalties in the 1-0 defeat at the non-league side. In fact, he has been desperate to make amends in the two games since.
Yet, like Ronnie O’Sullivan suddenly rattling the black against the jaws, or Phil Taylor missing doubles, Rodgers finds his knack in front of goal has temporarily deserted him.
There’s no lack of effort, no lack of work-rate, but maybe Rodgers is trying too hard to make amends, instead of relying on the instincts which have served him so well since his £30,000 move from Crewe 11 months ago. His confidence certainly appears to have been knocked because chances you would have put your house on him converting are now being missed.
The striker is too good a player not to return to form but, in the meantime, Vale are struggling for alternatives after relying so heavily on him.
They suffered here, when he missed their two best chances, and a game they might have drawn was lost to a Nottingham Forest side who swept to the top of the table. “Goalscorers will have spells like that,” said Lee Sinnott after his side slipped a place to second from bottom. “If they scored all the chances they had, they would be on 130 goals a season. He is in one of those spells at the moment, but is getting the opportunities. “He is probably getting two or three a game and, once he gets off and running, he will be banging them in again. The time to worry is when you don’t get the opportunities.”
Rodgers has been at the sharp end long enough to know a centre-forward’s performance will be magnified more than anyones, apart from the keeper. He missed chances in last week’s goalless draw with Tranmere, and did the same on Saturday, but it would be ridiculous to solely blame a player who has probably been Vale’s best performer of the season.
It is not his fault that, when he doesn’t score, no-one else does.
The rest of Vale’s starting line-up on Saturday had mustered seven goals between them – Calum Willock (3), George Pilkington (2) and Dave McGoldrick (2) – so extra firepower is sure to be on Sinnott’s list for the January transfer window. For now, he must hope Rodgers can fire his way back into form because successive home games with Walsall and Luton give Vale the chance to make up ground at the bottom.Saturday’s 13th defeat of the season left Vale three places and three points adrift, but there was enough in this performance to suggest Sinnott can move Vale up the table.
They defended doggedly and have a back four and goalkeeper which look better than relegation material. Paul Harsley and Marc Laird impressed in midfield and the lack of cutting edge was not for want of industry from the front three. Vale haven’t scored in the five-and-a-quarter hours since Simon King’s own goal put them 2-1 up at Gillingham a fortnight ago.
But they have also been cursed by bad luck which saw McGoldrick strike the inside of the post against Tranmere and Laird do the same at Forest. Laird’s moment of misfortune came on 61 minutes when Harsley’s free-kick was headed clear to the edge of the box. The Scot met the ball with a screaming volley which left keeper Paul Smith stranded as it rattled the woodwork before flying across a crowded area and out to safety. Two inches to the left and the effort would have levelled the scores at 1-1 and rewarded a spell of pressure from Vale at the start of the second half.
Rodgers headed just wide from Harsley’s corner on 67 minutes, but their task became mountainous a minute later when Junior Agogo broke on the right of the area and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Lewis McGugan to fire past Joe Anyon from 10 yards.
Vale could still have made a game of it had Rodgers scored when Laird slid him though on goal on 73 minutes. Instead, the top scorer slipped the ball past Smith, but just wide of the right-hand post. The miss was no more agonising than a seventh-minute chance which would have put Vale in front. Harsley picked out Willock on the right of the area and he squared to Rodgers at the back post – only for the striker to snatch wide as the goal beckoned.
Forest made the most of their reprieve to take control of the half – and take the lead on 22 minutes.
Nathan Tyson sped down the right, cut into the area, and crossed for Agogo to tap into an empty net at the back post. There was an element of misfortune about the goal because Jason Talbot was down injured, so the defence was pulled out of position when Tyson sped down the flank. However, Sinnott accepted that Talbot had been felled accidentally and was also dismissive about claims Rodgers should have had a penalty when he was challenged by Wes Morgan after 49 minutes. He said: “I will call it the way I see it and, if that was my defender tackling one of their forwards, I would be extremely disappointed for a penalty to be given.
“That’s just the way I approach things. I do not look through rose-tinted glasses.
“I didn’t think it was a penalty, I thought the player got plenty of the ball.”
Sinnott’s honesty lends credibility to his claim that Vale will climb the table. This was Vale’s third loss at Nottingham Forest in three years, but was hardly unexpected. Their next three fixtures, at home to Walsall and Luton and away to Cheltenham give them a far more realistic chance to clamber out of the drop zone. He said: “I thought we showed Nottingham Forest a little bit too much respect in the first half compared to last week’s performance against Tranmere. “But in the second half you have to say we took the game to them. If we keep doing these things they will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season. “I gave the players the option after the game that, if they are going to drop their heads, then to let me know and I will put someone else in. “But I won’t let them because I am looking through the season and what we need to take out of each game. “We are not going to win every game, but I am not saying we will be prioritising games. We go into every one to win.
“The things we are doing in games will help us turn losses into draws and draws into wins when things are going for us.”
Fans can also expect recruits in January to help the players Sinnott feels can turn the tide.
For all his frustration of the last fortnight, Rodgers remains one of the most important players on the books.

Final Score Nottingham Forest 2 - 0 Port Vale

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot (Paul Edwards 75)
4. Keith Lowe
5. Mark McGregor
6. Paul Harsley
7. Marc Salmon (Craig Rocastle 45)
8. Marc Laird
9. David McGoldrick
10. Luke Rodgers (Robin Hulbert 75)
11. Callum Willock

Subs Not Used

• Chris Martin
• Danny Glover

Today's Attendence: 21,407

Man Of The Match: Marc Laird

Westwood Sent Packing

Defender Ashley Westwood has returned to Chester City two weeks before his loan was due to run out at Vale Park. Manager Lee Sinnott has decided to let the central defender go as he looks to rebuild his squad in the January transfer window. Westwood, aged 31, started 13 games for the Valiants after joining them on August 30. However, he lost his place to Keith Lowe after being dropped after the home FA Cup draw with Chasetown three weeks ago.
Sinnott said he needs to make room in his squad for new signings, adding: "Loan players are not expendable, but you can move them on a lot more easily. That is the reason he has gone back, but he also had a little niggle with his Achilles tendon as well."

Port Vale Vs Tranmere Rovers 15th December 2007

After the humiliating defeat midweek by Chasetown, you could be forgiven for thinking the Vale players were not shall we put it mildly, looking forward to this one. All in all in the most part, the reaction from the very few die hard supporters who actually ventured down to watch them was on the whole good, although certain sections of the crowd did vent their frustrations towards Luke Rodgers for missing the two penalties. No one expected to get a result against a side we regularly do poorly against, but the hard work and determination showed today was a huge step in the right direction, and only luck appears to have deserted them at the moment, but you make your own luck don't you?
After being cup tied mid week, David McGoldrick returned up front, and Lee Sinnott named the same line up that won so well at Gillingham last weekend. Vale started well, despite several sections still giving players a hard times to the players, but after weathering the cold and a short spell of Tranmere pressure, Vale showed they may just be turning the corner. Rodgers was his usual bustling self, and had a couple of good efforts saved by the keeper.
Willock then won a free kick on the edge of the area on 26 minutes. It looked as if Rodgers would be the taker, but McGoldrck fired in a beautiful swerving effort that was only denied by the corner of the crossbar. Marc Laird was having a great game as well, and the time he was allowed on the ball showed why those at Man City think he has a bright future. His time on the ball allowed him to create chances and spray the ball around to Willock and Rodgers, who kept the Tranmere keeper busy.


Mark Salmon was also having his best game in a Vale shirt during his loan, and he created a great cross that Harsley met and headed just wide of the goal. A long range effort from skipper Rodgers forced a fine save from Coyne, who had to scramble across goal to push the ball wide on 35 minutes.
Unfortunately a hard knock on Salmon forced him to limp off on 42 minutes and he was replaced by Rocastle, who again had to suffer the crowd giving him a hard time as he returned to the team for the first time since the first match against Chasetown. Despite this the team made it to half time without conceding, and on the whole looking the best team, and as they had played so well the home fans clapped them off at half time, something they would not of expected.

Half Time Score Port Vale 0 - 0 Tranmere Rovers

Vale started the second half with as much passion as they had ended the first half with, and the fan's backing them off the pitch inspired a second half performance that just lack a goal to seal off a great performance. Laird was first to have a shot on 48 minutes, again forcing a good save from Coyne, and shortly after Rodgers had a header blocked from the resulting corner, and then Lowe headed just over as the rebound was fired back in on goal.

As a reputation often precedes players, Jason Talbot was getting a hard time from the Tranmere players, but instead of his anger boiling over, he kept his cool, and let his play do the talking with a fine second half display. He continued to get forward at every opportunity, and had a fierce shot go just wide of the target.

Vale were still the better of the two sides, but Tranmere are a dangerous side, who counter attack well, and they almost got their noses in front against the run of play when Zola went close. But Vale weathered the storm again, and McGoldrick went close with a great shot on 73 minutes. Pilkington has started to become his old self without the pressure of the armband, and he went close with a header from Harsley's free kick on 79 minutes, as Vale began to pressure the Tranmere defence in the final ten minutes.

Sinnott made hie second sub on 82, bringing on Marc Richards for Willock. He got involved straight away with a good through ball that Rodgers fired just over the bar, when it would of been easier to find McGoldrick who was in acres of space. But a few seconds later McGoldrick had a great shot again saved by Coyne as Vale finished the match the stronger side. It was a final shot from the Vale, as they produced a great performance against one of the better sides in the division, and began to erase the cup exit from everyones memory, well at least for a few minutes.

Final Score Port Vale 0 - 0 Tranmere Rovers

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot
4. Keith Lowe
5. Mark McGregor Booked 74
6. Marc Laird
7. Mark Salmon (Craig Rocastle 42)
8. Paul Harsley
9. David McGoldrick
10. Luke Rodgers
11. Callum Willock (Marc Richards 82 Booked 92)

Subs Not Used

• Danny Glover
• Paul Edwards
• Chris Martin

League One Standings

21. Cheltenham: Pl 19 W 4 D 6 L 9 GF 16 GA 28 Pts 18

22. Port Vale: Pl 20 W 4 D 4 L 12 GF 16 GA 29 Pts 16

23. Bournemouth: Pl 20 W 4 D 4 L 12 GF 19 GA 34 Pts 16

Chasetown Vs Port Vale FA Cup Second Round Tuesday 11th December 2007

For the first time this season I am lost for words. No words could describe the embarrassment of your team losing to a team five divisions below you. No words of comfort from the chairman will ease the piss take from people or the national embarrassment that this result has shamed onto our club. From a personal point of view, good luck to Chasetown, you deserve all the plaudits you are getting. But to be fair, any side with an ounce of football knowledge should be able to beat the shower of shit playing for the Vale currently. I have said it before and I will say it again now, this is the worst squad I can remember in my history of being a Vale supporter. The money I have spent following this club adds up to thousands, and if things don't improve very soon, then this will be my last season. The league below is beckoning, and Lee Sinnott, although this is not his squad, has been the unfortunate man in charge as we suffer our most humiliating defeat in the FA Cup ever. The Chairman came out with a half hearted apology on the club website, saying funds will be made available and that things will change for the better given time, well bollocks to time. This club has been through its greatest times while I have supported them. Wembley wins, promotions, great cup runs, brilliant hard working players, and more importantly stability. This current set up from top to bottom is nothing compared to the old set up, and it is the loyal supporters who are now suffering this farce of a team. So as I feel I am too annoyed to write a fair summary of the FA Cup defeat, then I have posted the report from the Sentinel, which I am sure will give a much more user friendly review of our worst defeat ever.

Port Vale manager Lee Sinnott defended his players after they slumped to the club's worst result in living memory at non-league Chasetown last night. Danny Smith's 89th-minute goal gave the British Gas League Midland Division One side a 1-0 victory that sent Vale crashing out of the FA Cup.Chasetown's status four divisions below the Football League makes Vale's defeat even more calamitous than infamous previous cup exits to Scarborough, Canvey Island and Enfield.Chasetown's late winner came after Vale captain Luke Rodgers missed penalties on 47 and 55 minutes.The defeat prompted a minority of Vale's 500 travelling fans to chant 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' - just as they had done after Chasetown's 1-1 draw at Vale Park which prompted last night's second-round replay.The shock defeat continued a miserable season for Vale, who are four points adrift of safety in the League One relegation zone and now out of all the cups.But far from criticising his players, Sinnott believes they will draw strength from their embarrassing cup exit.He said: "I can't fault the players for their commitment, I would like to stress that."You have to ride storms. It is about where we stand at the end of the season."Where we stand on December 11 is an awkward place, but it will make us stronger."Sinnott's priority now is lifting his players for Saturday's crucial home League One clash with Tranmere ... and he hopes there will not be a backlash from disgruntled fans after last night's result.He explained: "We will have to wait and see, but that is football."It was questionable whether they deserved a backlash after the first game last Sunday. But, in my view, they certainly don't deserve a backlash for tonight. If the fans want to react like that then, in my view, that is playing into the hands of Tranmere."The defeat denies Vale a third-round tie at home to Cardiff and the chance of a money-spinning FA Cup run.Sinnott added: "It does hurt at the moment, and we are getting chants about our position in the league, but it is up to us to turn it around."We are moving in the right direction. This is another test of our character which will stand us in good stead."I will put up with short-term barracking so long as I know I am going to get long-term success."The Chasetown manager, Charlie Blakemore, had words of consolation for Vale.He said: "Although Vale had a lot of pressure, my lads worked so hard to restrict them to half chances."You can't fault the Vale players for that or the preparation of Lee Sinnott. But I think we deserve a little bit of credit for holding them."

Port Vale Line Up For The Most Embarrassing Result In Their History

The Name And Shame Hitlist

1. Joe Anyon - Rated as best young keeper in League One, mediocre at best
2. George Pilkington - No where near his former self, needs to focus on his game more
3. Keith Lowe - Donkey
4. Mark McGregor - Just not good enough
5. Jason Talbot - Neglected by Foyle, but a bright spark if he could control his temper
6. Marc Laird - Loan player from Man City, much too good for this club
7. Paul Harsley - Too inconsistent, one week OK next week garbage
8. Danny Whitaker - Should never play for the club again, a disgrace and no footballer
9. Callum Willock - Not good enough, no surprise he was free.
10. Luke Rodgers - Our only bright spark, unlucky tonight. Will leave in January no doubt
11. Mark Salmon - Fish out of water!

Subs

• Chris Martin - Youth keeper who has done nothing wrong yet
• Colin Miles - Apparently most improved in training, although usually useless.
• Marc Richards - A joke. Disgraceful that he earns what he does for doing nothing
• Danny Glover - Never given a chance, but probably because he is not good enough
• James Lawrie - Scores bagfuls in the youth side, worth a try. Not hard to be better than some of the above names.

Gillingham Vs Port Vale Saturday 8th December 2007

Its not often this season that I have been able to say this, but Vale came away from Preistfields on Saturday with 3 vital points that they deserved, and it's a result that lifts them from the bottom of the table. This was Vale's first win at Gillingham since 1958, so they could be forgiven for thinking that a win was not going to be on the cards. But after the fight shown against Leeds United in midweek, this was a Vale team with a point to prove, and not even the atrocious conditions the few faithful fans had to endure was enough to hide the delight at Lee Sinnott's first league win as Vale manager.

Sinnott showed that Vale were determined to take points of the home side by going 4-3-3 for the first time this season, drafting back in one of the 'Chasetown Four', Callum Willock, who had been dropped along with Danny Whitaker,Craig Rocastle and Paul Edwards after the embarrassing cup result last weekend.

There was not much between either side as the game started. Vale had the first effort on goal, with Luke Rodgers firing a free kick into the wall. The Gill's also went close with King heading just wide. Vale were starting to look the more dangerous side as the half progressed. Paul Harsley sent in a great corner which hung in the wind. Willock rose up to head towards the goal, but Royce pulled off a great save to deny him. Then shortly after Salmon was guilty of a bad miss when he received a great through ball from skipper Rodgers, but put the ball wide. Vale began to dominate the game, and both Laird, whose half volley was tipped away, and Rodgers, who hit the side netting twice, almost gave Vale the lead they deserved. But this season we have not had the luck from our possession, and today was no different as the home team hit Vale on the break and went 1-0 up on 33 minutes.

Chris Dixon has starred for Gillingham since his loan move from Charlton, and he raced onto a through ball in the middle of the park. He easily beat Lowe for pace and raced clear to fire past Anyon in the Vale goal. But Vale have found a new found resilience since the Chasetown game, and within a minute they hit back, silencing the home fan's who were still celebrating going in front. McGoldrick played a great ball out to the wing, where McGregor aimed a low cross into the box. Callum Willock launched himself at the ball and headed Vale level with a fine and deserved equaliser. His delight was obvious as he ran to celebrate with the Vale fans who had put him on the rack after the Chasetown game.

As half time approach, Vale had got the edge back on the home side. The three up front was working well, and the team that looked bereft of ideas against Chasetown, was creating chance after chance today. The reward again came right on the stroke of half time. With the home side looking to go in level, McGoldrick raced up the wing and fired in a cross come shot low and towards the on rushing skipper Rodgers. Rodgers didn't have to worry about meeting the cross, as Simon King deflected the ball out of the path of Rodgers and into his own net to put the Vale 2-1 up on 44 minutes.

Half Time Score Gillingham 1 - 2 Port Vale

Vale again carried on the good work from the first half, and Rodgers almost put the Vale further ahead in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Then a great ball from McGregor to youngster Salmon was met and steered past Royce in the Gill's goal, but the shot went agonisingly wide of the post.


As the home side tried to get back into the game, Vale were steadfast in defence, and restricted the home side to a few half chances. As the half wore on the best chances again fell to the Vale, and Gillingham were reduced to hoofing the ball into the Vale box without creating any real pressure for Vale to have to cope with.


Laird got himself in trouble with the ref, after he walked the ball away after a hand ball by Harsley. Not happy with the decision he strode off with the ball, making his feeling's known to the ref, who promptly booked Laird. From the resulting free kick, the home side almost got back into the game, but Millers header flew inches wide of the post.
Vale brought on Whitaker on 76 minutes for the tired Salmon, who had impressed today in his second full game. Dickson then had two good chances to put the home side level. On 79 minutes head tried a overhead kick which just went over the crossbar. Six minutes later he fired a fierce shot at Anyon in the Vale goal, but he saved well to keep the Vale in front.


With Vale desperate to hold on to all three points Sinnott put on an extra defender, with Miles coming on for skipper Rodgers on 88 minutes. Rodgers handed the armband to Pilkington, who having had the armband taken from him after the Chasetown game, has responded by having two of his best performance's for the Vale this season. Vale hung on to pick up all three points and to give Sinnott his first league win as Vale manager, but more importantly with the FA Cup replay on Tuesday looming, this was the perfect way to give the Vale players huge confidence boost going into the tricky tie at Chasetown. As the final whistle was blown the Vale team formed a huddle in the middle of the pitch, a show of unity perhaps, or maybe just the relief at the fact they have finally won a game again.


After the game a delighted Lee Sinnott said " You could tell what that win meant to the players today. When I looked over my shoulder they were still out there huddled together - that wasn't pre-planned. Let's be honest, we have taken a little flak lately, but that doesn't mean we don't care and don't want to do better. I think that showed in the players huddle. They have taken some stick lately, so this one is for them. We don't like the position we are in, and that is not going to change overnight. But the characteristics we showed at Elland road and today will stand us in good stead. "

Final Score Gillingham 1 - 2 Port Vale

Port Vale Line Up

1. Joe Anyon
2. George Pilkington
3. Jason Talbot
4. Mark McGregor
5. Keith Lowe
6. Marc Laird Booked 66
7. Paul Harsley
8. Mark Salmon
9. David McGoldrick (Danny Whitaker 76)
10. Luke Rodgers (Colin Miles 88)
11. Callum Willock

Subs Not Used

• Danny Glover
• James Lawrie
• Chris Martin

Today's Attendance: 7,001

Man Of The Match: George Pilkington

League One Standings

20. Millwall:- Pl 18 W 5 D 4 L 9 GF 17 GA 26 Pts 19

21. Port Vale:- Pl 19 W 4 D 3 L 12 GF 16 GA 29 Pts 15

22. Cheltenham:- Pl 18 W 3 D 6 L 9 GF 15 GA 28 Pts 15