YOUR VIEWS

Sports.editor@thesentinel.co.uk

PORT Vale fans have aired their views on the 1-0 victory over Salford City...

Phil Sherwin: This was a great result against one of the better teams, and we had to battle very hard for it. We had more chances in the first half, although they had the best with the penalty saved and then the incredible miss from the rebound.

They also went close with James Wilson’s header, which Scott Brown saved, but we won it with a great goal, finished by Cristian Montano. We know he’s got the talent to do that, he’s done it before for us when he plays in those forward positions. Our defence was very strong again and Theo Robinson made a difference when he came on.

So, on to Cambridge tomorrow when it will be us, with the best defensive record in the league, against them with the best attack.

Andrew Blakemore: That was a very much-needed three points. It didn’t matter how it came, I would have taken an own goal or a ball trickling over the line, we just had to win. The change of formation was obviously going to happen after how open Vale were last week.

But as much as we had chances, it did feel like it would be another one of those afternoons in front of the goal.

The chances came and went, then a Salford penalty that was all but going to cement this game, thankfully Ian Henderson’s penalty was so comfortable for Scott Brown, then the follow up would have nearly ended up in my seat in Bycars.

Then our best move of the game got us our first goal, a good cross, an even better header down from Worrall, then the half-volley from Montano ensured we got that elusive goal. It was such a sigh of relief in my household that’s for sure.

A good job done, as we finally get back to winning ways, it wasn’t pretty, but we got the result that we needed. Rob Rhead: The Vale looked far more comfortable at the back and in midfield with the return of Smith, Joyce and Conlon, but it was in the final third that lacked something in the first half.

The Vale had started tentatively and had done reasonably well, but it wasn’t until the mid-point of the half until there was a serious threat. In the space of five minutes Montano, Smith and Whitehead had chances, but apart from that there was little offered.

Salford should have had a half-time lead after Leon Legge had brought down Henderson whose subsequent penalty was well saved by Scott Brown who was then helpless as Henderson put the ball over the bar. Brown was also called upon to save a header from Wilson.

The superb finish by Montano for Vale’s winner shouldn’t paper over the cracks. You might say that the Vale were up against a fancied team but we were supposed to be fancied, too. There is something lacking in the final third, be it application or quality, that needs urgent attention.