ATTACKING OPTIONS ON THE UP AS VALIANTS ENTER CRUCIAL PERIOD

RYAN Loft wasn’t the only person to score in Burton last Saturday. While the former Bristol Rovers man was notching Port Vale’s winner at the Pirelli Stadium, Baylee Dipepa scored another at St George’s Park to make it three England Under-17 goals in two appearances.

Vale are going to reap the benefits of Dipepa’s experience on the international scene. Manager Darren Moore was looked at rather quizzically when he said there were good enough strikers already ‘in the building’ as far as he was concerned.

It flew in the face of all the commentators and fans who have criticised the club last summer for not bringing in a regular goalscorer.

With Dipepa certainly to be buoyed by his England goals and Loft putting the ball in the net for the first time in the league since October 2022, Vale’s prospects are on the up.

Throw into the mix James Wilson having chances recently but not able to convert them, and the possibility of Uche Ikpeazu returning, albeit he has only one goal himself, it’s a brightening picture.

Vale made big chances against Burton Albion. All the talk was of Loft missing a one-on-one opportunity in the first half, when everyone, including himself, seems resigned that he’s going to miss, but there was a bigger opening that went begging. Just look at Alex Iacovitti’s miss when he arrived at Conor Grant’s free-kick 10 yards out only to fail to get a connection.

Ethan Chislett scuffed a similar chance.

Moore seems to be managing his squad well. Loft and Iacovitti were called back in just at the right moment. Grant was brought back too but hardly contributed and it was only when he went off that Vale sparked.

The manager recognised Dan Jones had a tough time against Oxford United and left him out altogether. Jones will still be needed, though, especially as

Moore indicated Mitch Clark has yet another injury that will keep him sidelined.

More pertinently, the aerial presence Loft and Iacovitti possess was probably the main reason they were recalled against a desperately impotent Burton team who seem to have one weapon – a long throw.

As Ben Garrity mentioned, it was an ugly game.

That doesn’t matter a jot in the grand scheme of things.

We are nowhere near the ‘mustwin’ situation yet but every match has its significance.

On Friday, against Rovers, it would be fitting if Loft scored against his old club.

It’s a day when there could be other twists and turns. Fleetwood

Town play Cheltenham Town and Vale would rather not see Darrell Clarke’s side win that one. Interestingly, Cambridge United and Burton Albion – the two clubs in a shocking run of form – are both away and the form guide says they won’t pick up anything. That could mean a Vale win would take them out of the bottom four. Cambridge are at Barnsley while Burton travel to Wigan Athletic. Bizarrely, on Monday, when Vale face Northampton – a team with nothing to play for and below Moore’s men in the form table – Burton play Barnsley and Cambridge host Wigan.

It promises to be a pivotal weekend and we will know far more about the overall picture come Monday at 5pm.