Super-sub Alessandra makes the difference
SUPER-SUB Lewis Alessandra climbed off the bench to fire Notts County to victory at Port Vale, justifying boss Kevin Nolan’s faith in his playing squad.
Nolan and County faced some fans’ criticism for a lack of action at the end of the transfer window, but Alessandra – one of their summer signings – helped allay any worries.
And Nolan was pleased his belief in the team’s attacking threat paid off as they piled the pressure on Michael Brown’s Valiants.
“We’ve got goals all over the team, and people who can come on and make an impact,” Nolan said.
“So I was quite happy with the business we did in the transfer window and how early we did it.
“I spoke about it in my press conferences, and after games in the last few weeks, about the importance of the lads coming on having an impact.
“It wasn’t the best of games, not the greatest spectacle, but when you go away, get a clean sheet and win 1-0, it’s just fantastic.
“You can see the lads believe in what they’re doing.”
Port Vale did have their chances – David Worrall hit the post on 23 minutes, when Rob Lainton’s long goal-kick was knocked down to him. Former Vale defender Dan Jones then denied Gavin Gunning ten minutes into the second-half, clearing his goal-bound header off the line after Worrall’s corner.
But they were made to rue those misses – and some sleepy defending – when substitute Alessandra ghosted in unmarked to convert Jorge Grant’s cross with his first touch.
County finished the game with ten men, when Shaun Brisley was taken off with a head injury after all three substitutes had been used, but Vale could not find an equaliser.
And Vale boss Brown admitted he could understand the fans’ frustration.
He said: “We are all unhappy. I’ve been in football a long time, I understand it better than most. But if you look above us, we’re only five points off the play-offs.
“We understand where we are in the league, but the message is we’re working very hard to climb the table.
“We’ve hit the post and had one off the line that might have been in.
“We’re disappointed to lose, but we should have been out of sight.
“We’re aware we aren’t scoring goals, but we should not have lost.”