YOUR VIEWS

First half goals from Nathan Smith and Mitch Clark set Port Vale on the path to a 2-1 win at Oldham. Here’s what Vale fans made of the performance...

Rob Rhead: At the start of the season I thought we had a better squad than last season but in recent weeks I’ve been disappointed by the summer signings. So, I was interested to see how a team that could have been picked last year, except for Robinson, would do. Pretty well, as it happens. The Vale took the game to Oldham and deserved to take the lead through Smith’s header. There was plenty created, for once, with the wide men being particularly creative. In fact there would have been more goals before Clark hammered home had Robinson not needed more time than the plenty he already had.

The second half was more difficult than it should have been after Oldham got a goal back and Vale’s wide men were less effective against the substitute fullbacks. A good way to bounce back after Tuesday but, like that match, the difference in quality between the two halves is a concern.

Phil Sherwin: The first half was easily our best of the season, we were dominant and it could easily have been three or four.

Theo could have put us in front with that shot deflected on to the bar but then it was a good header from Smithy for the first and a great finish from Clarky for the second. That put us in control and I was thinking ‘the only thing we need to watch out for here is them scoring early in the second half...’ But even when they did they created very few chances after that. You could see why Oldham had only won one game but you just have to beat what is in front of you and this was a good win. I thought David Amoo made a big difference, Tom Conlon also played well, but there weren’t too many weak points throughout the team. This was just what we needed after three league defeats in the last four.

Alex Stevenson: We played with an attacking set-up, Montano on the left of defence and Burgess back in the side, plus Amoo back, and guess what? We won. Worrall looked like his old self, he never stopped running. Clark was MOTM with a great strike for his first senior goal.

Still no goals for our front three though in open play! Consistency is now needed.

Ian Brammer: Excellent performance, especially in the first half. We should have been at least four to the good by then. Amoo was electric but everybody was playing their part. Oldham were always going to try to come back at us in the second, Amoo and Robinson visibly tired.

Scott Brown didn’t really have much to do, well protected by his defence. In the end we were fairly comfortable.

Peter Lewis: In the first half we dominated the game, could have been three up in 10 minutes. A lot more tracking and fight when we lost the ball. With the ball we looked a real threat. Amoo and Burgess pushing and pressing forward instead of backwards like we have been previously. Theo ran his socks off. Great all round team display.

Scott Lingard: Great shift by the lads. A much-needed boost after Tuesday’s result. Should have been out of sight at half-time. Smith should have had a second at least.

Worrall and Amoo caused havoc all through the first half. The second half was more workmanlike, and they got a lucky flick to get a goal back and put us on the back foot at the start of the half, but we weathered the storm and Monty and Conlon could both have added goals. Clark was MOTM for me.

Daniel Berrisford: “Great performance. Should have been four or five but the real Vale showed up and it’s great to have Amoo back, what a difference he makes. Performances getting better every week.