Vale’s five-game unbeaten run in all competitions comes to an end following defeat against Bradford City at Vale Park.
Jon Brady made four changes to his side following Sunday’s heroics in the Emirates FA Cup. Andre Gray made a return to the Starting XI along with Tyler Magloire, who was a half-time substitute at the weekend.
It was the Visitors who had the game's first chance inside the opening ten minutes. A quickly taken corner allowed Bobby Pointon to hang up a cross the back post that was met by Matthew Pennington who looked to find the far corner, but his header was cleared off the line by Ben Waine who was in the right place at the right time to prevent Bradford from taking the lead.
Ten minutes later, the Bantams had another great chance to go ahead. Ethan Wheatley latched onto a loose pass on halfway before racing towards the goal, as he left the Vale defence for pace and bore down on goal. Joe Gauci raced off his line and made a crucial save with legs to keep the scores level.
The Visitors were piling on the pressure and came close again moments later. A Vale free-kick was cleared, Tyreik Wright played a cross-field ball to Antoni Sarcevic, who had acres of space down the right side. He broke into Vale half before flashing a low ball across the face of goal that was just out of the reach of Bobby Pointon, who had made a late run towards the back post.
On the half-hour mark, The Visitors deservedly took the lead. Wright’s low strike from the left side of the area was saved well by Gauci, but the rebound fell to Bobby Pointon, who controlled the ball well before slotting home from close range.
After taking the lead, The Visitors continued to dominate play. Forward Ethan Wheatley was making full use of his blistering pace as he looked to get in behind the Vale backline. In the final ten minutes of the first half, he had two efforts on goal, one from a tight angle that was saved comfortably by Gauci, before he had a second on the stroke of half-time from the right side of the area that was once again saved by Joe Gauci.
Jon Brady made a triple change at the break to get some fresh legs into the side. One of these subs was Ethon Archer, who came on to replace Ben Waine. Archer was straight into the action and had Vale’s best chance of the game. Jordan Shipley, who had also come on at the break, sent in a deep cross that was met at the back post by Archer, but the ball just bounced in-front of him and his effort was spooned into the air.
Wheatley continued to be a threat for the hosts; he latched onto a long ball before getting into the box and striking an effort that was turned around the post by Gauci. From the following corner, Sarcevic headed an effort straight at Gauci.
Bradford doubled their lead in the 67th minute when Tyreik Wright showed quick feet on the edge of the area before thundering an effort into the top corner, leaving Joe Gauci with no chance in the Vale goal.
Six minutes later, Former Vale loanee Will Swan should have added a third, but his header at the back post was well wide of the goal.
The Vale had a chance to pull a goal back ten minutes from time as Grant Ward struck an effort from the right side of the area, but it was comfortable for Sam Walker, who made his first of the evening.
Four minutes from time, Stephen Humphrys came close to adding a third as he cut inside onto his right foot before curling an effort towards the far post, but Gauci made a good save to turn it around the post after seeing it late.
TEAM NEWS:
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Connor Hall, Jordan Gabriel, Rhys Walters (Jordan Shipley 45’), Funso Ojo (Grant Ward 45’), Ben Waine (Ethon Archer 45’), Kyle John ©, Eli Campbell, George Hall, Tyler Magloire (Liam Gordon 60’), Andre Gray (Dajaune Brown 84’)
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Onel Hernandez
Bradford City: Sam Walker, Ibou Touray, Max Power ©, Josh Neuville (Harrison Ashby
79’), Antoni Sarcevic (Will Swan 69’), Tyreik Wright, Jenson Metcalfe, Bobby Pointon (Stephen Humphrys 69’), Curtis Tilt, Ethan Wheatley (Paul Mullin 69’), Matthew Pennington.
Subs not used: Joe Hilton, Joe Wright, Lee Evans.