Stalemate at Vale Park as we pick up our first point and clean sheet of the campaign.
Devante Rodney’s first league game in front of the Vale Park crowd and he almost gave them something to celebrate on eight minutes. His curling effort on the left-hand side from 20 yards caught Joe Murphy out but luckily for the Tranmere goalkeeper the ball bounced off the bar and out for a goal kick.
Lucas Covolan returned to action after he served his suspension on Tuesday night. The Brazilian had a quiet quarter of an hour but looked to be tested on 18 minutes by Josh Dacres-Cogley. His effort, from a really good position inside the area, went way wide. Five minutes later Tranmere were in again with Liam Feeney as he ran from the halfway line to the edge of the area although his shot ended up at the back of the Hamil Road Stand.
Signing on a free from Salford City in the Summer, James Wilson was searching for his first competitive Port Vale goal. In the 26th minute he came close to opening the scoring, David Worrall did well to cut the ball back to Wilson in the area who turned and shot but it was fired right at Murphy.
Seven minutes later Wilson was in again running down the right and striked the ball towards goal which just went past the far post. A set piece for the Valiants on 35 minutes which saw Leon Legge jump highest for the ball but his header was blocked on the line and cleared away from danger. Six minutes later Tom Pett tried a volley from outside the area but he did not have enough dip on it as it went over the bar.
The visitors had the first opportunity of the second half with Feeney who tried a shot from a very tight angle on 48 minutes but it rolled wide of the far post. Three minutes later it was our turn as Wilson took aim and struck an effort from range but it went just wide of the goal. On 56 minutes Worrall came close for the Valiants, cutting in on his left foot in the area and putting in a shot which cannoned back off the post and was eventually cleared away by Tranmere.
Eight minutes later Rodney picked the ball up on the edge of the area with lots of space around him, he fired a shot at goal but it was hit towards Murphy who claimed the ball comfortably. Emmanuel Dieseruvwe had his first chance for Tranmere, a good ball in from the edge of the area on the right was sent to him at the back post but his header was weak and saved easily by Covolan.
With 15 minutes left the Valiants really poured on the pressure, Rodney on the ball again but could not get a shot away, he played the ball to Pett who ran to the edge of the area and shot with his left foot which went over the bar. A corner for Vale on 85 minutes, the ball was cleared as far as Lewis Cass who fired way over from distance.
With three minutes of the 90 left, Rodney saw his chance to steal the show. He took the ball down the right-hand side, cutting in on his left and firing an effort at goal but his effort kept rising and just went over the bar. Nathaniel Knight-Percival almost won the three points for Tranmere in the 90th minute, splitting the defence with a great run but his header went wide of the goal. Rodney went close again in stoppage time but it ended goalless at Vale Park.
Port Vale: Covolan, Jones, Walker (63’ Amoo), Legge, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson (70’ Proctor), Benning (63’ Cass), Rodney, Pett
Subs not used: Stone, Hurst, Johnson, Martin
Tranmere: Murphy, Dacres Cogley, Knight-Percival, Davies, Morris, Spearing, Dieseruvwe, Feeney (90’+4 Watson), Glatzel (59’ McManaman), Foley, Clarke
Subs not used: Jolley, Maguire, Hayde, Doohan, Stratulis