Apologies and pledges as Vale are relegated

A look at Port Vale after a 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers confirmed relegation from League One

Connor Ripley keeps the ball out but can’t save Vale from a 2-0 defeat at Bolton and relegation. Pic by Tom Green

Hello and welcome to our Sunday morning edition of The Valiant for April 21.

Vale will be playing in League Two next season after their relegation was confirmed by a 2-0 defeat at Bolton.

Goals from Aaron Collins, on 72 minutes, and Cameron Jerome, on 93, gave Bolton victory against a Vale side who knew they had to at least match Burton’s result at home to Reading to take the relegation fight to the last day.

But Burton won 3-2, having taken an early 2-0 lead, and Vale couldn’t get the better of third-placed Bolton despite a battling performance.

Vale at least made Bolton work hard for their win and, in truth, their relegation isn’t because of performances like this but because of a dreadful run of just two wins in their last 22 league games.

That has cost them their League One status just two years after promotion at Wembley.

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