Vale’s five-match unbeaten run in the league ends at the Brick Community Stadium after a 1-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic.
Darren Moore made three changes to his side following last weekend’s 1-1 draw at AFC Wimbledon. This included a return to the starting XI for Kyle John, Dajaune Brown and Joe Gauci, who returned from international duty in time for this fixture. There was also a place on the bench for Marvin Johnson, who joined the club earlier this week.
The game started slowly, and it took a while for the first opportunity to come about. After a Wigan attack, Vale broke with pace through Dajaune Brown, but as he got into the box, his effort was blocked by a last-gasp challenge from Morgan Fox.
The hosts' first effort came in the 25th minute when a free kick from the right was met by Will Aimson, but his header was straight at Joe Gauci.
Five minutes before the break, George Hall received the ball on the edge of the box and took aim, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Two minutes later, Vale had Ben Heneghan to thank for this excellent goal-saving challenge. Dara Costelloe drove into the box with the ball and looked to curl an effort into the bottom corner but Heneghan flung himself at the effort and diverted it wide of the post.
Costelloe was in the thick of the action moments later when he was shown a straight red card after he struck the face of Kyle John whilst attempting an overhead kick. Costelloe only had eyes for the ball, but did kick John in the face, and so was given his marching orders as a result.
Despite the hosts being a man down, they took the lead ten minutes after the break. Ronan Curtis looked to head the ball back to Joe Gauci, but Asamoah JR nipped in and intercepted the pass before bundling a deflected effort into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.
Despite going a goal down, Vale had a man advantage, and there was plenty of time left to get back into the game. On the hour mark, Darren Moore made a triple change to try and shake things up, which included bringing on Marvin Johnson for his Vale debut.
Late on, Mo Faal met Ruari Paton’s corner from the right with a powerful header, but his effort went well wide of the goal.
The referee added seven minutes of injury time, and Vale almost took advantage of this. Ben Garrity won a free-kick right on the edge of the box that was taken by Paton, but his effort crashed into the wall and went behind for a corner. From the following corner, Jayden Stockley’s header was comfortable for Sam Tickle.
Wigan Athletic: Sam Tickle, Morgan Fox, Will Aimson, Fraser Murray, Callum Wright (Jensen Weir 45’), Christian Saydee (Paul Mullin 87’), Dara Costelloe, Jason Kerr ©, Matt Smith, Ollie Cooper (Asamoah JR 45’), Joe Hungbo (Luke Robinson 90+2’).
Subs not used: Toby Savin (GK), Callum McManaman, Rapheal Borges Rodrigues.
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Ben Heneghan (Jayden Stockley 70’), Connor Hall, George Byers (Rhys Walters 90+1’), Ben Garrity ©, Dajaune Brown (Ruari Paton 61’), Ronan Curtis, Jesse Debrah, Kyle John (Marvin Johnson 61’), George Hall (Mo Faal 61’), Devante Cole.
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Ryan Croasdale.
