Port Vale 0-1 Bradford

For those of us still harbouring naive notions of a play-off position today was the day we finally woke up and got a smell of the coffee.

For the third consecutive game we were missing our two most accomplished players; Danny Sonner and Leon Constantine, both missing through knee injuries. In the case of the latter it keeps the rumours afloat of impending departure.

What was exposed was our lack of creativity and guile in midfield and penetration in attack. Michael Husbands accomplishd nothing today deputising for Constantine. Akpo Sodje gave, as usual, 100% effort – but is not a finisher. Tellingly the last three games have now seen just one goal for Vale, a direct free kick from Jeff Smith.

The midfield were disappointing today. Harsley and Whitaker contributed very little in the centre, Gardner put in one decent cross from the right – almost leading to a goal from Sodje – but this was by no means his best game for Vale. We desperately need a genuine right winger.

Another problem we’ve had all season is our reluctance to put the ball into the box at the first opportunity. We enjoyed alot of possession today, worked the ball out wide, but then rather than put in a cross we start moving the ball square – 4 or 5 passes until we eventually lose the ball.

The one area I have no criticism for today was our defence. Sure, Richard Walker still doesn’t look good enough for this league, but Pilks and Michael Walsh both gave assured performances so – despite not landing Clayton Fortune – I don’t see us sinking towards the relegation battle.

The game was won on 54 minutes by Peter Schumacher. Johnson burst past Pilkington on the right and delivered a cross to the far post for Schumacher to finish. For me Johnson was the difference between the two sides, and almost wrapped the game up on 68 minutes when he left Walsh for dead only to see his shot saved by Anyon.

Of the two ex-Vale players on show for the visitors Marc Bridge-Wilkinson showed the class that we were missing in midfield, Dave Hibbert showed nothing.
Players Ratings….
Anyon 6
Walsh 7
Walker 4
Pilkington 7
Gardner 6
Harsley 5
Whitaker 5
Smith 6
Sodje 7
Husbands 4

Lowndes 5
Abbey 6
Hulbert 5