[Eddie]

Vale play well but lose undeservedly to a second-half penalty.

Vale started with Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Sutton, Collins, Rigg, Fraser, Roberts, Loft, with the Richards boys up front.

The first half was pretty uneventful and the first thing I wrote down was the substitution of the injured Fraser after 16 mins.

On 23 mins J Richards produced good play to put Rigg away on the right but he lost possession in the area.

On 26 mins a cross from Vernon was held by Tomlinson at the second attempt.

On 26 mins a fine pass from Roberts to J Richards produced a corner to Vale which was cleared.

On 30 mins Yates sent J Richards away on the right and his shot was saved by the legs of the keeper.

On 38 mins Tomlinson made a good save.

HT Vale 0 Aberdeen 0

On 46 mins Loft hit a shot just wide.

On 47 mins Loft produced a great run and cross, followed by a ball-winning tackle from the same player.

On 51 mins Roberts produced a fine block to stop an Aberdeen shot.

Between the 53rd and 57 minutes Aberdeen had four corners, all cleared.

On 62 mins Rigg nearly scored goal of the season, so far, when racing through before shooting over the bar.

On 63 mins M Richards hit a free-kick from the edge of the box and it was deflected for a Vale corner - cleared.

On 67 mins the excellent Roberts produced his best bit of play of the game when working his way into the box before crossing.

On 68 mins Griffith did a silly challenge, injuring an Aberdeen player. The Aberdeen lad was booked for a foul and Griffith was immediately substituted (by Rob Taylor)at the "request" of the referee. Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee showed his annoyance at the incideent, remonstrating with the ref. Perhaps others had a different view of this but it didn't look good to me.

On 72 mins J Richards shot just wide.

On 75 mins J Richards had a header saved with difficulty by the keeper.

On 77 mins Rob Taylor went on a trademark run through the middle before shooting just wide.

On 80 mins Kris Taylor replaced the limping Sutton.

On 80 mins Rob Taylor was entirely to blame for an Aberdeen penalty. He lost possession when there was little cover and then pushed over Aberdeen player Ryan Jack. Paton sent Tomlinson the wrong way to give the SPL side an undeserved lead. 1-0 to Aberdeen.

On 83 mins a Rob Taylor cross gave Vale a corner which was cleared.

On 84 mins a Loft shot gave Vale another corner from which Rigg hit a shot wide.

On 85 mins Dodds replaced Roberts, who received great applause.

On 88 mins Dodds brought a save out of the keeper from another Vale corner.

On 89 mins Rob Taylor produced good play to give J Richards an opening from which his backheeled effort brought a good save out of the keeper.

FT Vale 0 Aberdeen 1

The attendance was 1824 including some from Aberdeen, some of whom wore kilts!

Ref was our luckiest ref, Graham Salisbury of Preston. We had a wonderful record with him until losing on penalties at Bradford City last season in the JPT .......... and we lost to a penalty this time.

This was an encouraging display by Vale who did not deserve to lose. The Aberdeen keeper was undoubtedly busier than Tomlinson. Better finishing at one end and the avoidance of stupidity by Rob Taylor at the other would have produced a quite different result. Vale edged the corner-count by 5-4 and had plenty of possession and after a quiet first half they had several efforts on goal.

Vale lacked pace down the flanks until Rob Taylor came on. We look less threatening without Rob T or Haldane on the field.

Vale may not be Spain but there was plenty of good passing, largely because of the performance and influence of Gary Roberts who turned in a hugely impressive display. He is the sort of player we have lacked for a while - a player with an eye for a pass and the ability to see an opportunity. He does not favour the safe pass so we must accept that sometimes he will give the ball away more often than a player inclined to play safe stuff back or to the side. He received applause during the game for individual moments of excellence and when substituted late in the game (perhaps done by Adams to enable him to receive deserved acclaim). There is no doubting his ability but I just pray he stays on the straight and narrow off the field.

Vale looked solid enough at the back though I'm not sure I would want McCombe and Sutton as my preferred pairing at the heart of the defence as neither is blessed with great pace. Loft performed well on the left, showing great industry and no little skill. Roberts is a certain starter for the Bury game but Loft looks deserving of a start. Up front Marc Richards had an amazingly quiet game while his partner Justin was always involved, receiving and laying off and having efforts on goal.

Altogether a decent showing by Vale and the result, however undeserved, was of secondary importance compared to the performance.

Sadly I will not see the Walsall friendly as my attendance is required at a wedding!!

Eddie

[Tosh]

Eddie, on 27 July 2010 - 10:45 PM, said:

Gary Roberts who turned in a hugely impressive display. He is the sort of player we have lacked for a while - a player with an eye for a pass and the ability to see an opportunity. He does not favour the safe pass so we must accept that sometimes he will give the ball away more often than a player inclined to play safe stuff back or to the side. He received applause during the game for individual moments of excellence and when substituted late in the game (perhaps done by Adams to enable him to receive deserved acclaim). There is no doubting his ability but I just pray he stays on the straight and narrow off the field.

Eddie

I thought it was a good move by Micky to bring him off late on after an impressive display, the ovation he received would have done him the world of good after his recent troubles. We really do need him to keep on the straight and narrow, he looked way and above what we've had recently. Quite impressed with Loft tonight, too, he looked leaner, fitter and much more involved than he did last season.

[M Hirst]

Thanks for the report Eddie

I was particularly please to hear of Roberts contribution. I thought he showed some very good moments in the Emerald Isle.

Looking forward to making my way up from London on Saturday, I think Walsall will provide an equally tough preparation, if not more so, to Aberdeen

[Tosh]

Eddie, on 27 July 2010 - 10:45 PM, said:

On 68 mins Griffith did a silly challenge, injuring an Aberdeen player. The Aberdeen lad was booked for a foul and Griffith was immediately substituted (by Rob Taylor)at the "request" of the referee. Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee showed his annoyance at the incideent, remonstrating with the ref. Perhaps others had a different view of this but it didn't look good to me.

Did the Aberdeen lad get shown the yellow card, I thought it was for Griff? Bit harsh if he did, it was bad lunge by Griffith.

[bycars rob]

Tosh, on 28 July 2010 - 08:55 AM, said:

Eddie, on 27 July 2010 - 10:45 PM, said:

Did the Aberdeen lad get shown the yellow card, I thought it was for Griff? Bit harsh if he did, it was bad lunge by Griffith.

The Aberdeen player came in two footed and deserved all he got.

[Tosh]

Must admit from my view both went in but Griff's challenge seemed the more dangerous to me and I thought he was the one that got booked and was then promptly subbed, no idea if that was Micky's decision or a request from the referee.

This post has been edited by Tosh: 28 July 2010 - 08:50 AM

[Tosh]

It seems that they were both shown a yellow card according to some other reports but I can only remember it being waved the once. Ah well, I must have been giving the very attractive young lady in the Police box another glance at the time!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/flwrkss.gifhttp://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

[ChrisR]

Both were booked, bizarrely Griff only after the ref had consulted the Aberdeen captain. It didn't seem as if the ref asked for Griff to be replaced, why should he? The Aberdeen player was just as guilty if not more so, he definitely went in 'studs up'. I was sitting directly behind Griff as he went into the challenge so didn't get a great view of his actions but could see the Aberdden player very clearly, it wasn't pretty!

McGhee was not annoyed at the incident and, for him, was quite calm until the ref booked his player. I've never liked McGhee, either as a player or a manager and last night went no way to changing my opinion.

[IMM]

I had no idea we had a friendly against Aberdeen - why does no-one tell me anything?

Who esle we got games against now?

Newcastle Town, I'm certain of.

[Wick Boy]

IMM, on 28 July 2010 - 12:58 PM, said:

...why does no-one tell me anything?

As you're very odd.

Your man Roberts looks to be a half decent player by all accounts, let's hope he can sort himself out, have a season with us before he moves onto the level he looks like he deserves to be at.

Good luck to the bloke.

[IMM]

With Roberts we have a number of players who can possibly play in combination to give us a certain style of midfield, depending on what the circumstances merit.

It's not nice to say it but we only need one good season out of Roberts. If the rest of the players build on last season he could just give us that bit of quality we've often lacked and then we can say 'bye-bye' to this division.

[Dr_Emmett_Brown]

IMM, on 28 July 2010 - 01:06 PM, said:

...and then we can say 'bye-bye' to this division.

i can't believe you're already touting the idea that we'll get relegated!!!

you really are a doom-monger! ;)

[The Riddler]

IMM, on 28 July 2010 - 01:06 PM, said:

It's not nice to say it but we only need one good season out of Roberts.

I'd be delighted with that.

This is the annoying thing about it, he's exactly, exactly the kind of player we've needed for such a long time. And yet I'd be surprised if he makes it through the six months, let alone the season. And in the worst case, he completely disrupts the squad, and we're suddenly having to adapt very quickly to losing him. Because there's no doubt in my mind that we'll look a completely different team with/without him. A big gamble, but going onwards as we are, we've got a very classy player in the middle for now..

[IMM]

He's either going to get us promoted or get a knock and then go on an almighty bender and crash a biplane into the middle of the pitch during a crucial home game.

Or possibly we're building him up too much and the question should really be how much have Fraser and Griffith learnt after last season and can Loft make the sort of contribution he did towards the end? (I vote this one).

[Jacko]

ChrisR, on 28 July 2010 - 11:27 AM, said:

McGhee was not annoyed at the incident and, for him, was quite calm until the ref booked his player. I've never liked McGhee, either as a player or a manager and last night went no way to changing my opinion.

http://www.eveningex...846637?UserKey=

[uncle bede]

Tosh, on 28 July 2010 - 10:21 AM, said:

It seems that they were both shown a yellow card according to some other reports but I can only remember it being waved the once. Ah well, I must have been giving the very attractive young lady in the Police box another glance at the time!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/flwrkss.gifhttp://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

She was only 18 last week!

[Tosh]

uncle bede, on 28 July 2010 - 06:45 PM, said:

Tosh, on 28 July 2010 - 10:21 AM, said:

It seems that they were both shown a yellow card according to some other reports but I can only remember it being waved the once. Ah well, I must have been giving the very attractive young lady in the Police box another glance at the time!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

She was only 18 last week!

If only I was two years younger!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

[IMM]

Tosh, on 28 July 2010 - 06:53 PM, said:

uncle bede, on 28 July 2010 - 06:45 PM, said:

Tosh, on 28 July 2010 - 10:21 AM, said:

It seems that they were both shown a yellow card according to some other reports but I can only remember it being waved the once. Ah well, I must have been giving the very attractive young lady in the Police box another glance at the time!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif

She was only 18 last week!

If only I was two years younger!http://www.portvaleonline.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

You'd be 58?

[ChrisR]

Jacko, on 28 July 2010 - 06:40 PM, said:

ChrisR, on 28 July 2010 - 11:27 AM, said:

McGhee was not annoyed at the incident and, for him, was quite calm until the ref booked his player. I've never liked McGhee, either as a player or a manager and last night went no way to changing my opinion.

http://www.eveningex...846637?UserKey=

Well he certainly wasn't too animated until his player was booked.

[dangerous]

I haven't seen much of Roberts so what do people think his true level of playing ability is if he sorted his off-field problems out? Could he play in the Championship or is he a good League One player?