The Valiants fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers at Vale Park.
The first half of the game was largely dominated by Darren Moore’s side, but the Vale just couldn’t find the opening goal, with Faal and Humphreys going closest.
The visitors got the all-important goal in the 53rd minute of the game as Owen Bailey slotted home from close range following a low cross from Glenn Middleton.
The Gaffer made six changes from Tuesday's game against Stevenage with Gauci, Headley, Garrity, Waine, John and Faal replacing Marosi, Debrah, Gordon, Croasdale, Curtis and Tolaj. Ben Garrity featured in the starting eleven for the first time since April, whilst Joe Gauci made his Vale debut.
Meanwhile, Grant McCan made just one change to his side that lost at Huddersfield on Tuesday, with Joe Sbarra making way for Harry Clifton.
The visitors got the game underway at Vale Park and had the first opportunity just past the ten-minute mark. A cross into the Vale box was cleared to the edge of the area where Bailey was waiting. Bailey met the ball with a first-time effort, but his attempt went wide of Gauci’s post.
The Valiants created their own chance just three minutes later. An in-swinging corner from Shipley was met by the head of Faal, however, his close-range effort bounced wide of the post.
Darren Moore’s side were starting to take control of the game and crafted another opportunity with twenty minutes on the clock. Following some unselfish running from Waine, Headley had the ball at his feet and unleashed an effort, only to be denied by a fingertip save from Lo-Tutala.
Vale created two big chances in the space of a minute. Firstly, a wicked delivery into the box by Shipley was guided towards goal by Humphreys, whose effort crashed off the crossbar. Shortly after, the ball fell to Headley eighteen yards out, the wing back took aim, but his strike whistled wide of the post.
Somehow, the game was still level as we entered the final fifteen minutes of the half. This time a ball into the box was controlled by Waine, who laid the ball off the Faal. Faal's first-time effort was smartly saved by Lo-Tuala and then Garrity couldn’t quite get enough power on the rebound attempt.
The first goal of the game came eight minutes into the second half as the visitors took the lead. A ball across the box from Middleton was met by Bailey, who slotted home into the bottom corner.
Rovers came close to a second with an hour played as Sharp rose highest from a corner, but his attempt went just over the crossbar.
Vale came close to grabbing an equaliser fifteen minutes from time. A cross into the box from John found Curtis, who got up and connected with the ball; however, he couldn’t get his header on target.
Full Time: Port Vale 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Port Vale Starting XI: Gauci, Clark, Headley (Gordon 62’), Hall, Garrity © (Croasdale 62’), Ojo (Walters 70’), Waine, John (Richards 79’), Humphreys, Shipley, Faal (Curtis 62’)
Unused Substitutions: Marosi, Debrah
Doncaster Rovers Starting XI: Lo-Tutala, Bailey ©, McGrath (Pearson 46’), Molyneux, Broadbent, O’Riordan, Sharp, Clifton, Nixon, Middleton (Gibson 78’), Senior (Maxwell 46’)
Unused Substitutions: Lawlor, Hanlan, Crew, Ajayi
