The points are shared at Vale Park despite an excellent performance from the Valiants.
Vale started the game the better of the two sides and will feel especially in the first half that they deserved a goal. The majority of chances fell Vale’s way, but they just couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Mitch Clark did have the ball in the back of the net in the second half, but following the linesman raising his flag, the goal was disallowed. On review, Clark will feel hard done by as the wing-back looked to be onside.
Darren Moore made five changes to his starting eleven from Saturday with Ojo, Croasdale, John, Gordon and Curtis coming into the eleven for Shipley, Waine, Stockley, Headley and Humphries.
The visitors made three changes to their starting eleven that beat Peterborough as Fish, Lawlor and Ashford were replaced by Trott, Chambers and Willock.
Following a lively opening to the game, it was Vale who had the first sight of goal. An out swinging corner from Curtis was met by the head of captain, Byers, but his effort went just wide of Trott’s left post.
The Valiants had another great chance just shy of the twenty minute mark. Another corner from Curtis was this time met by Debrah, who’s bullet header was blocked, with his attempt looking certain to nestle into the back of the net.
It was Curtis once again causing Cardiff trouble five minutes later. Following a neat interchange between Ojo and Tolaj, Curtis was bearing down on goal and looked to find Croasdale, who would’ve had a simple tap in. However, a Cardiff defender took all the sting out of Curtis’ pass and Trott gathered the ball.
Cardiff’s first real opportunity of the game came just after the half-hour mark. Striker, Salech, received the ball just outside of the penalty area and took aim on his left foot, but his effort sailed wide of the post.
Vale created two huge opportunities in the space of two minutes. Firstly, a ball into the box from Clark was almost turned into his own net by Chambers, and then Debrah headed a Curtis corner marginally wide of the post.
Half Time: Port Vale 0-0 Cardiff City
The second half started as the first one ended, Vale on top. The Valiants did have the ball in the back of the net through Clark, but the linesman raised his flag and the goal didn’t count.
With ten minutes played in the second half, Vale were continuing to dominate and looked like the only team that was going to score. Another Curtis corner was met by a Vale player and again the ball went agonisingly wide of the post.
As the clock ticked to ninety, Byers robbed a Cardiff player in possession and broke towards goal. Byers played a slick ball into the path of Tolaj, who attempted to set up Waine, but his pass was intercepted, and the ball fell to Ojo on the edge of the box. Ojo took aim, but his effort was blocked by an on-rushing Cardiff defender.
Following six minutes of added time, the referee brought the game to a close and Vale will feel they deserved more than a point. Next up for the Valiants is a trip to Blackpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday Evening.
Full Time: Port Vale 0-0 Cardiff City
Port Vale starting XI: Marosi, Clark, Hall, Byers©, Tolaj, Curtis (Waine 77’), Ojo, Gordon (Heneghan 83’), Croasdale, Debrah, John.
Substitutions: Davies, Stockley, Walters, Richards, Shipley
Cardiff City XI: Trott, Bagan, Wintle, Colwill, Tanner (Ashford 61’), Chambers©, Willock (Davies 92’), Salech (Robinson 77’), Colwill (Turnbull 61’), Kpakio, Lawlor (Fish 61’)
Substitutions: Turner, King