Plenty to ponder after Walsall defeat

An in-depth look at Port Vale after their top-of-the-table game with Walsall

Rekeem Harper tries to break through for Vale against Walsall. Pic by Tom Green

Hello and welcome to our Sunday morning edition of The Valiant for December 8.

The Vale lost top place in the table and bragging rights to old rivals Walsall after a 1-0 defeat in Burslem.

Vale’s bright start to the game proved to be as good as it got as the Saddlers came back into the contest at the end of the first half and then looked the better side once they took the lead on 51 minutes when Jamille Matt’s effort was saved upwards by Connor Ripley but looped over the line.

The winner might even have been wind assisted as both teams battled with Storm Darragh as well as each other. Vale came closest when substitute Jayden Stockley had an effort cleared off the line as he and the Hamil end appealed in vain that the ball had gone over.

Instead, it was the Saddlers who edged it to move two points clear of Vale at the top with a game in hand.

Vale at least stay second because third-placed Doncaster could only draw 2-2 at home to Cheltenham so remain two points behind having, like Vale, played 19 games.

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