The Valiants bow out of the Carabao Cup following a 3-0 First Round defeat against Championship opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Molineux.
Jon Brady handed three debuts to his side as summer signings Lewis Monstma, Kyle Dempsey and Jackson Smith all made their first starts in Vale colours. Onel Hernandez and Mo Faal were also named in the squad after returning to the club in the summer.
The Valiants were backed by over 2,500 travelling supporters who had made the journey to Wolverhampton. Brady’s side shot out of the blocks and came inches away from taking the lead in the 6th minute. A deep free-kick caused chaos in the Wolves box before the ball fell to Kyle Dempsey, who found Jaheim Headley in space. The Vale winger took a touch before thundering a strike off the crossbar from the left side of the area.
Moments later, Headley turned provider as his deflected cross looped up and found George Hall, who beat the keeper to the ball before forcing a good save from Daniel Bentley, who reacted quickly.
After a shaky start, the hosts soon gained control of the game and took the lead in the 13th minute with their first meaningful attack of the game. Mateus Mane drove down the left side before getting into the box and sending a low cross towards Adam Armstrong who calmly slotted into the bottom corner from close range.
In the 20th minute, Armstrong came close to adding his and his side's second goal of the game. After a loose pass in midfield, the hosts won the ball back and Fer Lopez found the Wolves forward, who turned quickly before curling a right-footed effort just wide of the far post.
On his second debut for the club, Mo Faal was causing issues for the Wolves backline and when he won his flick on, Jordan Gabriel looked to go through on goal; he beat Daniel Bentley to the ball before getting his close-range effort all wrong and missing the target before the hosts were able to clear the danger.
Vale were made to rue another missed opportunity as the hosts added a second goal in the 33rd minute. A well-worked corner from the left resulted in Keiran Trippier sending in a deep cross that was headed back across goal by Yerson Mosquera, into the path of Andre, who was on hand to turn home from close range.
Three minutes before the break, the hosts made it three. Andre sprayed a long ball to Rodrigo Gomez, who had space to drive into before getting to the byline and cutting back to Fer Lopez, who finished well into the bottom corner.
In the second half, the hosts looked to add to their tally and Mosquera came close five minutes after the break as his header from a Trippier corner flashed past the upright.
In the 55th minute, Vale had a golden chance to get back into the game when we were awarded a penalty. George Hall broke free down the right before firing in a low cross towards Faal, who was tripped inside the area and the referee swiftly pointed to the spot. After winning the penalty, the Vale forward stepped up to take the penalty, but it was saved by Bentley, who guessed correctly and was able to keep his clean sheet intact.
Second-half substitute Oli Lynch looked to get his side on the scoresheet as he twisted inside & outside before striking an effort towards goal, but it was turned around the post by Bentley. From the following corner, Lynch forced another save as his downward header was straight at the Wolves keeper.
On the night of his homecoming, Raul Jimenez looked to score his first goal since returning to the club. The Mexico International’s best opportunity came in the last ten minutes when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area before taking aim, but Jackson Smith was equal to it as he palmed it away to safety.
TEAM NEWS:
Wolves: Daniel Bentley, Kieran Trippier (Nasser Djiga 70’), Hugo Bueno, Marshall Munetsi (Tommy Doyle 65’), Andre, Adam Armstrong, Yerson Mosquera, Rodrigo Gomes, Toti ©, Fer Lopez, Mateus Mane (Raul Jimenez 70’)
Subs not used: Jose Sa, Pedro Lima, Tawanda Chirewa, Ladislav Krejci, Jackson, Tchatchoua
Port Vale: Jackson Smith, Jaheim Headley, Jordan Gabriel (Kyle John 70’), George Byers (Ryan Croasdale 77’) , Mo Faal (Oli Lynch 70), Kyle Dempsey, Liam Gordon (Onel Hernandez 59’), Lewis Monstma, Cameron Humphreys, George Hall (Ben Waine 77’), Rhys Walters
Subs not used: Mason Terry, Connor Hall, Tyreece Simpson, Charlie Bussell.