For the second week in a row, Port Vale have showcased a tremendous performance – considering their expectations as a newly-promoted League One side. Cardiff City were left frustrated by the solidity of Darren Moore’s team.
A 2-1 defeat to Rotherham United meant that Vale needed to pick up at least a point here to get their season started. With a notable slowness in Moore’s side during the opening 45 against the Millers, Port Vale certainly showed a much better style and tenacity in matchday two.
Many Midfield Maestros
Cardiff rotated slightly heading into this game, with Moore himself overseeing five changes – some of which had changed the dynamic in the second half of Vale’s Rotherham showing. Ronan Curtis continued his threatening form, while Lorent Tolaj and Mitchell Clark translated their promising League One outings to this Bluebirds draw. Fans had been calling out for George Byers to be partnered with Ryan Croasdale and Funso Ojo, as Vale created an optimistic midfield three to weaken Ryan Wintle’s impressive playmaking role.
The game started with a bang – specifically to the teeth of Yousef Salech, who was caught by the recklessly stuck-out leg of Jesse Debrah. Cardiff’s latest addition, Nathan Trott, showed tremendous composure in the goalkeeping department as he dummied both Curtis and Tolaj in the first half to subsequently create passing channels to City defenders. Brian Barry-Murphy’s side adopted a similar approach to their Peterborough United victory, with the Bluebirds content in working off-ball for a chunk of the opening 45. Vale used this opportunity to play some great football.
Relentless Vale Stun Promotion Favourites
In a more suited 5-3-2 formation, Moore’s side found passing lanes more often, with Clark in particular utilising the right-sided channel. The Port Vale right-back struck the ball into the back of the net early in the first half – but was perhaps controversially flagged offside. Prior to this, Debrah had nearly opened the scoring within 20 minutes of play. Another onslaught in the 51st minute saw Curtis thunder a shot over the crossbar, before Byers rattled the same woodwork in the 64th while Trott looked beaten. The Vale skipper outplayed Wintle in his opposing sweeping-six role.
Writer’s View
Ultimately, Vale will feel unlucky not to have come out of a tense match-up with all three points. However, a draw against promotion favourites in the second gameweek will massively inspire Moore’s side to kick on and prompt survival in the division.
The midfield three of Byers, Croasdale and Ojo worked tremendously. Debrah looked excellent and managed to eliminate Salech from the game, with a few questionable fouls hidden in the performance. Clark deservedly took home the Sky Sports Man of the Match.
All in all, Port Vale will be the much happier outfit, with question marks over Cardiff’s definite quality needing to be addressed by Barry-Murphy before next week.
