Cheltenham defeat plunges Vale deeper into relegation trouble

Port Vale news, analysis, opinion and more in our Sunday February 18 edition

Former Vale boss Darrell Clarke watches from the touchline in the Valiants’ 3-2 defeat at Cheltenham. Picture by Tom Green

Port Vale’s relegation worries deepened as they were beaten 3-2 at Cheltenham in Darren Moore’s first game in charge.

The Vale twice took the lead, through Nathan Smith on 25 minutes, and Curtis Davies’ own goal on 65 minutes. But the hosts netted through Matty Taylor’s free kick in first-half stoppage time and Jack Shepherd’s 69th-minute volley before Will Ferry netted what proved to be the winner on 73 minutes.

The result means Darrell Clarke’s Cheltenham climb above Vale who drop a place to third-from-bottom ahead of Tuesday’s game at another relegation rival, Reading.

If you would like to sign up to The Valiant, there’s a £20 offer (50% off) for your first year. That offer runs until the end of February.

We produce at least 150 editions a year. The price you pay on the day you sign up covers you for your first 12 months but also includes access to all 75 previous editions since we launched at the start of October.

If you have subscribed, thank you for your support and please read on for news, analysis, opinion and nostalgia…