Port Vale vs Lincoln

[kieran_vale]

5 minutes stoppage time to be played. Vale usual fuck-up at the back in stoppage time incoming any moment now...

 

[valefan16]

What a fucking massive win that is! Fully deserved too... Hornby had one save to make. That should now be that!

 

[Buxton Vale]

An unexpected but very welcome 3 points against one of league 2's better teams. Surely we are safe now given other results today?

 

[Davidimp]

Never got going by the sounds of it.
Manager furious with our lack of effort.
Fair play to Vale for wanting to win far more than we did.

 

[darren gregory]

Despite Lincoln clearly not being at the races I always felt they posed a threat.
Makeshift defence did well although Rowe going off helped hugely.
Not sure why Lincoln persevere with tactic of a man on the keeper for every kick. Bound to be penalised eventually as you can't even breathe on a keeper these days.
Match winning save from Hornby, we are safe now 99.9999% anyway.
Put this car crash to bed and roll on August.
Gritty determined display possibly deserved though their keeper wasn't tested loads.
All in all a good day and can enjoy a few sherbets in Mansfield without cacking my pants about the result.
Good support from Lincoln though seemed quiet in general.

 

[valefan16]

Oddly we bullied them and they are fairly one dimensional. Some good banter with Rhead... especially after he tried to nail Nathan Smith and bounced off injuring himself in the process.

The lad they took off was their best player the winger who we tried to buy a year or two back.

Hornbys save was mint despite not being tested he was alert and that was a match winner.

Barnet can’t catch us now baring us losing 8-0 week in week out, Chesterfield need four wins from five to catch us.

 

[Luke Imp]

I know nothing about the game other than the score so I couldn't tell you whether we played well or not, but if David's comments are correct then we do seem to have an off game after going on a decent run then reacting off the back of it for another run.

It's a good time in the season to get on another one of those.

 

[Guernica]

Disappointing defeat but we do bounce back well, whilst the 4-3-3 has done us well, I still think we're a better side 4-4-2. I think the defeat will allow us to make a few changes, Wharton back with Bostwick in CM. Personally I think we're better like that, it will also allow Green to have more influence. The results going against us doesn't allow us much room for slip ups but to be in this position is fantastic.

Good news that Danny and Nicky are close to signing new contracts. Whilst going up would be incredible, I think if we miss out we're in a great position for next season.

Congrats to Vale on securing their FL status and a big 2 home games coming up.

 

[Imp in Branston]

Disappointed to lose after our decent run of late. A point would have been fine. Puts us under a bit more pressure now against Wycombe on Tuesday. I doubt DC will tolerate another under par performance if we weren't at it much today.

 

[Davidimp]

Oddly we bullied them and they are fairly one dimensional. Some good banter with Rhead... especially after he tried to nail Nathan Smith and bounced off injuring himself in the process.

The lad they took off was their best player the winger who we tried to buy a year or two back.

Hornbys save was mint despite not being tested he was alert and that was a match winner.

Barnet can’t catch us now baring us losing 8-0 week in week out, Chesterfield need four wins from five to catch us.

Rowe went off with a bruised ankle mate

 

[darren gregory]

You huffed and puffed a lot and I felt nervous when Rowe was on. Top player who we allegedly made a six figure bid for last season.
Rhead was terrible ( not just cos he the panto villain ), Green ineffective.
I liked the look of Waterfall at the back , exactly sort of uncompromising centre half every team needs. Also your left back looked decent.
We are just hugely relieved as this definitely the worst season I have ever seen.
5 points adrift of safety when Aspin took over , I'd say we are probably about 10th in the form table since he came. Good effort with this rabble.

 

[valefan16]

You huffed and puffed a lot and I felt nervous when Rowe was on. Top player who we allegedly made a six figure bid for last season.
Rhead was terrible ( not just cos he the panto villain ), Green ineffective.
I liked the look of Waterfall at the back , exactly sort of uncompromising centre half every team needs. Also your left back looked decent.
We are just hugely relieved as this definitely the worst season I have ever seen.
5 points adrift of safety when Aspin took over , I'd say we are probably about 10th in the form table since he came. Good effort with this rabble.

Some decent players worth building around next season at least. Huge relief but as I have said before there should be no celebrating, the work to ensure this never ever happens to us again needs to start now! Been an absolute disgraceful two years.

Aspo got it spot on tactically though and has done more than expected so in Aspo we trust.

 

[ValiantRob]

I do hope so. Along with these sorts of scenes:

Surely these sort of scenes should be more appropriate for a regime that oversaw much bigger crimes than taking a cup seriously.

 

[WH_Stag]

DC got one eye on the ipswich job?

Don't think he'll go will he? would be a great story to take you up again

 

[ValiantRob]

If Lincoln concentrated on football as much as they do on cynical fouling then they could be a decent side. Rhead has always been a mardarse since he played at Kidsgrove and hasn`t changed, happy to hand it out but cries like a baby when he gets it back. Great win and Gibbo man of the match for me at right and left back.

 

[valefan16]

If Lincoln concentrated on football as much as they do on cynical fouling then they could be a decent side. Rhead has always been a mardarse since he played at Kidsgrove and hasn`t changed, happy to hand it out but cries like a baby when he gets it back. Great win and Gibbo man of the match for me at right and left back.

In fairness to Rhead if there was anyone this season we’d handle it was him, essentially a poorer version of Tom Pope who our back line defend day in day out in training! If Lincoln progress I’d be surprised to see him make the step up.

 

[Plumbob]

If Lincoln concentrated on football as much as they do on cynical fouling then they could be a decent side. Rhead has always been a mardarse since he played at Kidsgrove and hasn`t changed, happy to hand it out but cries like a baby when he gets it back. Great win and Gibbo man of the match for me at right and left back.

What an absolute pleasure to read someone roatinafter they've beaten us!
We remain dark hearted, cynical and extremely proud of it!
Good luck and see you next season.

 

[Davidimp]

DC got one eye on the ipswich job?

Don't think he'll go will he? would be a great story to take you up again

Confirmed he's signing a new contract and won't be going anywhere.

 

[valefan16]

If Lincoln concentrated on football as much as they do on cynical fouling then they could be a decent side. Rhead has always been a mardarse since he played at Kidsgrove and hasn`t changed, happy to hand it out but cries like a baby when he gets it back. Great win and Gibbo man of the match for me at right and left back.

In all fairness we actually for once played some dark arts late on, especially the hack on their lad to stop him!

 

[valefan16]

The issue with Lincoln today a bit which surprised me considering how effective they are usually aerially is how dominant we were in the air against them going forward. Every set piece in the final third we had we caused problems with the goal, the scramble, the toe end from connecting from two yards and the Pope header early on. Howkins going up caused them huge problems and we beat them at their own game today.

Maybe we should focus on that style as we had to combat them today and it seemed effective us playing that way!

On a side note superb support from Lincoln, seemed a decent bunch too in the pub before, mostly families and older generation and didn’t see any trouble at all. Banter aside about them bandwagoning it is a lesson to other clubs in how to maximise any cup success and promotion for the longer term as it’s about ten times what they usually bring!

 

[Soz]

Looked like an off day for Lincoln and I felt we put in a very professional performance and did enough to deserve the win. I wasn't ever really concerned that they were going to score and they didn't really create much, a few crosses that would have been tap ins if anyone was there, and a deflected shot which produced a great save from Hornby.

Credit where credit is due from me today, I thought the referee was a breath of fresh air. Both sets of fans frustrated at their big man strikers getting grappled at times but really it was Pope/Rhead and both defences giving as good as they got.

Delighted with the points and although I thought we were probably safe before the game, I think the extra points should really take away a lot of pressure even if Barnet and Chesterfield manage to win a game or two.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

The issue with Lincoln today a bit which surprised me considering how effective they are usually aerially is how dominant we were in the air against them going forward. Every set piece in the final third we had we caused problems with the goal, the scramble, the toe end from connecting from two yards and the Pope header early on. Howkins going up caused them huge problems and we beat them at their own game today.

Maybe we should focus on that style as we had to combat them today and it seemed effective us playing that way!

On a side note superb support from Lincoln, seemed a decent bunch too in the pub before, mostly families and older generation and didn’t see any trouble at all. Banter aside about them bandwagoning it is a lesson to other clubs in how to maximise any cup success and promotion for the longer term as it’s about ten times what they usually bring!

I’d echo that, plenty of them about in Burslem, all good spirited, not a hint of mither before or after.
This had away win all over it, but as said, they created little, despite that,they still looked half decent.
Vale battled, and hard work paid off. Shit as we are, we try, and that’s just about enough.

 

[valefan16]

The table since Aspin took over in mid October has us 13th in the form table over that long period so we’re not actually that shit. Browns shocking start caused all this didn’t it. I’m positive for next year at least under Aspo and JR.

 

[ValiantRob]

What an absolute pleasure to read someone roatinafter they've beaten us!
We remain dark hearted, cynical and extremely proud of it!
Good luck and see you next season.

Hope so, large away following and next season more teams will have worked you out.

 

[valefan16]

Cowley seemed to get in a row with Brabin who was about to knock his head off! Not sure what that was all about?

 

[Davidimp]

The issue with Lincoln today a bit which surprised me considering how effective they are usually aerially is how dominant we were in the air against them going forward. Every set piece in the final third we had we caused problems with the goal, the scramble, the toe end from connecting from two yards and the Pope header early on. Howkins going up caused them huge problems and we beat them at their own game today.

Maybe we should focus on that style as we had to combat them today and it seemed effective us playing that way!

On a side note superb support from Lincoln, seemed a decent bunch too in the pub before, mostly families and older generation and didn’t see any trouble at all. Banter aside about them bandwagoning it is a lesson to other clubs in how to maximise any cup success and promotion for the longer term as it’s about ten times what they usually bring!

We've seen a real growth in families going to games since the Cowleys arrived. We have our junior imps club which has around 1500 members in it. We also have the lady imps group too.
Hopefully just a blip yesterday and Wembley hangover, maybe missed a trick by using the same starting 11 on equally large if not larger pitch.

 

[Luke Imp]

The issue with Lincoln today a bit which surprised me considering how effective they are usually aerially is how dominant we were in the air against them going forward. Every set piece in the final third we had we caused problems with the goal, the scramble, the toe end from connecting from two yards and the Pope header early on. Howkins going up caused them huge problems and we beat them at their own game today.

Maybe we should focus on that style as we had to combat them today and it seemed effective us playing that way!

I'm not, because we're not a tall side and we had Bostwick at CB who, don't get me wrong, does an excellent job back there, but someone like Wilson, Wharton or Raggett when we was here offer(ed) a different type of aerial challenge and were more dominant and taller. That's why in the opening post I said I expected us to put Wharton back in at CB for more height in the side and then release Bostwick into CM who's more dominant in the air than Whitehouse, Woodyard or Frecklington.

On a side note superb support from Lincoln, seemed a decent bunch too in the pub before, mostly families and older generation and didn’t see any trouble at all. Banter aside about them bandwagoning it is a lesson to other clubs in how to maximise any cup success and promotion for the longer term as it’s about ten times what they usually bring!

That's been the most pleasing thing. Usually you go to a game and you know what sort of age people are going to be there but it's anywhere from 5-95 for us at the minute with tonnes of families and a fair share of females, too.

 

[valefan16]

Good to see Robbie Williams tweet about us on a rare occasion! ‘Port Vale 1 Lincoln 0 phew! Good work Mr Aspin... onward x’

Needs to get buying the club now! Hehe!

Of course Robbie played for the Vale in Aspins testimonial game (as well as Foyles).

 

[Soz]

I'm not, because we're not a tall side

What?!?! I'd consider us a tall side and you dwarfed us!

 

[valefan16]

What?!?! I'd consider us a tall side and you dwarfed us!

The geezer that came on second half up front was massive! (Looked shit mind). Looked a very strange fellow.