Port Vale v Exeter City

[leedsvaliant]

Good point in the end against one of the best sides in the league. Laws and boateng are too good for this level.

I thought we were the better team in the second half but Exeter defended well, especially balls into the box.

There was quite a lot of niggly bits of time wasting going on, lots of picking the ball up and walking away with it. We should do more of this but aspin won't allow it apparently.

Thought stockley was more interested in how many times he could get away with elbowing people in the face. Does he always play like that, as he is surely a walking red card?

Good following from Exeter considering the distance and I have no doubt they'll be in the top 7 come may but we more than matched them and it would have been an injustice if we hadn't got anything out of the game.

It felt like a top of the table clash which bodes well for us. Exeter are a well organised, well drilled machine and our players have only played a handful of games together.

 

[ValiantRob]

Stockley should have walked for his second elbow and we should have had a pen for the Pope foul but the ref was in no position to give it.
Manny was booked correctly as he stopped them breaking away. Decent game and Exeter will be promoted with Lincoln.

 

[jbet]

Four unbeaten now from what looked on paper like a tricky spell. As others have mentioned, it does feel like there's a feel-good vibe coming back, and that emanates from the players who clearly have a strong team spirit as shown by the celebrations for our recent goals.

The league table is looking pretty strange. We're 16th but as close to 3rd place Exeter as we are 18th placed Crewe. The bottom 8 are in a world of their own at the moment, with us having a five point gap to the next team, and we're actually only two points off the playoffs. I don't think anyone is looking at that though, rather just enjoying the fact we've turned a corner after 18 months of utter shite.

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

Good quality game for L2 I thought. Exeter will go up without a doubt. Real quality but with a streetwise edge too. They know how to use the dark arts to their advantage. Stockleys elbow on Smith was disgraceful but he got away with it. But really pleased that we matched them today. Even the most staunch Exeter fan couldn’t say that we didn’t deserve something from today. We are starting to look like a decent side and there’s no reason why we can’t at least make a challenge for top 7.

 

[Dave-Vale]

People seem to ignore the treatment that Stockley gets that often results in him giving it back. You claim Pope gets that, but you aren't looking for Stockley.
I've said a draw was a fair result, but we did go for it and would have got the second but for a teriffic save.
Of course Legge won't get a retrospective red, they don't look at things in detail at this level.

Pope is physically assaulted every single game but, as passionate as he is, I’ve never seen him swing an elbow at another player. Stockley probably did receive some rough treatment from Legge and Smith but there’s no excuse to swing an elbow like he did.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Pope is physically assaulted every single game but, as passionate as he is, I’ve never seen him swing an elbow at another player. Stockley probably did receive some rough treatment from Legge and Smith but there’s no excuse to swing an elbow like he did.

Assaulted? Bit strong that. You did a good job on Stockley, he didn't get a sniff. Do you think that was entirely due to good marking? I don't think he and Legge will be exchanging Xmas presents.
Don't pretend you are angels, you are far from that.

 

[valefan16]

Pope and I imagine Stockley suffer from the same issue in that as big physical strikers referees let a lot go against them but blow up as soon as they give it back. It’s frustrating in fairness. Harry Kane you see have the same issue and seems to be a problem with the old fashioned centre forwards type strikers.

Pope although gets frustrated doesn’t use his elbow though he just winges at the referee a lot!

 

[valefan16]

Play offs will be a big ask after last season it will likely take another year to get the squad where we want it, that said the table is so tight, take out Lincoln and Exeter who will go up automatically the next 14 sides are so close and there’s no real stand outs there so could be one of those seasons where average is good enough. It looks very level between those 14 clubs with the bottom 8 at the moment getting cast adrift and non of them in particularly good form although Notts will possibly push themselves out of it.

Just got to keep the form going, got some tough games in October all 8 of them! So going to stretch the squad and will have to rotate a bit. If we can rattle off a two or three wins I’d take that out of the six league ties.

 

[darren gregory]

Why or how is Nicky Law playing in League two ? Excellent performance from him, pulled all the strings .
And for us Conlon seems a find for a free agent, Stevenage must have some midfield .

 

[valefan16]

Why or how is Nicky Law playing in League two ? Excellent performance from him, pulled all the strings .
And for us Conlon seems a find for a free agent, Stevenage must have some midfield .

To be fair Stevenage released on a free arguably our best winger since the 90s!

Conlon has been immense, I was meh when we got him on trial and assumed the friendly performances were a false dawn based on the fact they didn’t want him but he was one of the best on the park yesterday again. Maybe he’s just producing for us as he’s settled now he’s back in his home town or something? Or Stevenage style didn’t suit his play. Either way him and Manny is like exchanging a battered old ford escort for a Ferrari when you compare it to last seasons central midfield of Pugh and Tonge!

 

[Moomin]

Why or how is Nicky Law playing in League two ? Excellent performance from him, pulled all the strings .
And for us Conlon seems a find for a free agent, Stevenage must have some midfield .

Yep he really is quality. A huge upgrade on Harley and James. He’s already scored 3 and has 3-4 assists. If he stays fit all season we will be right up there as he makes us tick.

I told a Rangers supporting mate that we’d signed him and he couldn’t believe it as he was apparently a top player for them a few years back.

Just shows that there’s some real bargains available on free transfers...

 

[valefan16]

One for the Exeter fan claiming a robbery... this was given a free kick on the edge of the box...

 

[denzel ecfc]

I am not as confident as the Vale fans in tipping us for automatic promotion. Far too early to say and whilst we have started well we have shown we are prone to an occasional aberration like against Lincoln and that our defence at the moment is threadbare and one more injury could be costly.
This is why I was so disappointed with that final minute goal, I'd like to take anything going even if we truly didn't deserve the three points. I'm sure in future games may go one way or the other.
I just hope we can take any frustration out against Stevenage on Tuesday. Three points then will leave us in a very good position.

 

[valefan16]

Exeter will go up relax. Far better than you were against us last season when we battered you with a far poorer side, physical but unlike some physical sides you had real quality. Even the long balls were generally accurate rather than aimless.

Best side I’ve seen us play since relegation hence why we are so chuffed with our performance levels to match you. You’ll not lose many.

 

[denzel ecfc]

One for the Exeter fan claiming a robbery... this was given a free kick on the edge of the box...

View attachment 9690

Pope using his experience to con our young inexperienced midfielder. I did comment at the time I thought it might have been inside but unsure if it was a foul, from our vantage point below the scoreboard it was difficult to see.
Any footage of the Legge incident?

 

[valefan16]

Pope using his experience to con our young inexperienced midfielder. I did comment at the time I thought it might have been inside but unsure if it was a foul, from our vantage point below the scoreboard it was difficult to see.
Any footage of the Legge incident?

Don’t know if off the ball I doubt it but it’s not my image it’s off OVF. Doha who posts on here occasionally may be able to find it.

The main complaint for Exeter which is surprising as you were aerially superb most of the game was that we got four close range headers in the same move in a six yard box with 11 of your guys in the box. We never seem to score from corners and until that point every flick on or bounce in the box seemed to always drop to a fluorescent shirt (they were bloody bright!) Aspin has banned dark away kits so we will probably have one like that next year if we change from our purple number!

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

Aspin bans a lot doesn't he

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

One for the Exeter fan claiming a robbery... this was given a free kick on the edge of the box...




View attachment 9690

Vale playing left to right

 

[valefan16]

View attachment 9691
Vale playing left to right

Yeah so inside the area. It was on the side of the area closest to the Lorne street where the camera is.

 

[valefan16]

Aspin bans a lot doesn't he

A bit too much, dark away kits (hence our all black away kit was never worn once our supposedly one off third yellow kit came in for Notts!)

He banned a lot of things but that puts us at a disadvantage when everyone else is going around doing it.

 

[Dave-Vale]

View attachment 9691
Vale playing left to right

Not sure what your point is unless you’re agreeing it was inside the box.. Pope and the player are inside the box and Pope is running out of the box towards the byline/corner.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Not sure what your point is unless you’re agreeing it was inside the box.. Pope and the player are inside the box and Pope is running out of the box towards the byline/corner.

Not conclusive that it was a trip though. Chap on our forum sat a lot closer says there was no deliberate contact

 

[valefan16]

Not conclusive that it was a trip though. Chap on our forum sat a lot closer says there was no deliberate contact

Why was he in the home end?

 

[denzel ecfc]

Why was he in the home end?

Because you don't have disabled seats in the away end

 

[ValiantRob]

I had a good view and thought it was a pen.The ref gave a foul but incorrectly judged it to be outside the box, it was a silly tackle as was one from Clark later but thankfully the Exeter winger stayed on his feet.

 

[jbet]

Does it really matter?

 

[Soz]

Definitely was a foul but I wasn't 100% sure it was in the box at the time. Going off the picture that is a stone waller, and there were 2 other decent penalty shouts.

What is the "Legge incident"?

When he pushed the striker over? Probably because Exter kept kicking/throwing the ball away after the whistle.