Ryan Loft’s 82nd minute strike earns Vale all three points at The Pirelli Stadium.
The hosts started the brighter of the two sides, but it was Vale who had the first effort when James Wilson was played in behind. The Vale forward raced into the box before firing into the side netting from the left side of the box.
In the 11th minute, Burton had their first effort on goal when Mark Helm curled an effort past the far post from the left side of the box. Five minutes later Steve Seddon’s raking diagonal ball found Mason Bennett down the right side, but his effort was well over the bar.
The best chance of the game so far came in the 21st minute when Ryan Loft broke free of Burton backline and was one-on-one with Jamal Blackman but loft bared down on goal, he placed a low effort agonisingly wide of the near post.
Moments later Vale came close again when Connor Grant’s corner was met at the back post by Nathan Smith who saw his header tipped over by Blackman. From the following corner Alex Iacovitti glanced a header wide of the Burton goal.
Vale were on top and squandered another good chance in the 25th minute when Grant’s free kick flashed across the face of goal and was just out of reach of Iacovitti.
Five minutes before the break Connor Ripley was called into action for the first time in the game. Joe Hugill and Steve Seddon exchanged passes on the edge of the box which allowed Seddon to get in behind, but his effort was well saved by the onrushing Connor Ripley.
The Brewers began the second half on top and had a good opportunity in the 49th minute. A corner from the right caused chaos in the Vale box before the ball eventually fell to John Brayford who fired wide of the post on the swivel.
In the 56th minute Ethan Chislett broke free and started a Vale counterattack. He found James Plant who stayed onside before crossing to Loft who’s header was well blocked by Mark Helm at the back post.
On the hour mark Vale came close inches away from opening the scoring when Ben Garrity’s near post header cannoned off the upright before being cleared away.
It was end-to-end at the Pirelli Stadium and in the 67th minute Burton came close again when Mark Helm drove into the box and cut inside and outside before shooting straight at Ripley who comfortably saved.
Vale were piling on the pressure and came close again in the 76th minute when James Plant’s cross was cleared as far as Tom Sang who fired an effort towards goal but it was well saved by Jamal Blackman. Following this chance Vale continued to press and when Ryan Loft won the ball back in the offensive third his cross was just out of the reach of Gavin Massey.
In the 82nd minute Vale finally made their pressure count when we took the lead through Ryan Loft. Following a Burton attack Vale broke with Ethan Chislett who drove up the pitch before playing the ball to Ryan Loft. The Vale forward then returned the favour to play Chislett through on goal but his effort was pushed onto the post before Ryan Loft followed up to smash into the roof of the net and earn the Valiants a crucial three points on the road.
TEAM NEWS:
Burton Albion | Jamal Blackman, John Brayford ©, Steve Seddon, Deji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney, Joe Powell, Mason Bennett (Bobby Kamwa 64’), Mark Helm, Tom Hamer, Joe Hugill (Kyle Hudlin 64’), Toto Nsiala
Subs not used: Jake Kean, Sam Hughes, Rekeem Harper, Mustapha Carayol, Dylan Scott
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Nathan Smith ©, Ben Garrity, Ryan Loft, Ethan Chislett, Funso Ojo, Connor Grant (Tom Sang 52’), Alex Iacovitti, James Plant, Jesse Debrah, James Wilson (Gavin Massey 74’)
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Kacper Lopata, Jason Lowe, Jensen Weir, Rhys Walters
