Port Vale 0 Wigan 1 - Alternative Report

Last Updated : 26-Dec-2002 by
De Vos: Another vital goal
Earlier on in the day top of the table rivals Cardiff had slipped up at Luton Town. The Hatters won 2-0 at home with goals in the last ten minutes from former Bristol City striker Tony Thorpe and Steve Howard.

Bristol City also came suffered a shock result. They were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Plymouth Argyle.

However at Vale Park, a third goal in as many games from skipper Jason De Vos was enough to take the points for Wigan.

Not very flattering on the eye the game started with more competition between the two sets of fans than goal mouth action.

The first half chance fell to Wigan's Gary Teale who shot wide from the edge of the area on 14 minutes.

Jarrett: Good performance before his suspension
Unfortunately for Vale star midfielder Michael Cummins was stretchered off with what looked like an injured shoulder on the 18 minute mark. No doubt that will be a big loss to Vale who already have a lengthy injury list.

Thier first chance came after 30 minutes when Port Vale man of the match Steve Brooker laid on Sean McClare who gave the dressed-up Latics fans behind the goal a scare with a bobbling shot into the crowd.

It was ten minutes prior to half time before the first major chance. On fire, Nathan Ellington put the ball through for an on-rushing Tony Dinning who tried to fire his shot though Mark Goodlad who was lighting off his goal-line.

Lee McCulloch came on at half time for a below par McMillan and ten minutes later made his first notable impact on the game. The big-Scot fired the ball into Neil Roberts who headed teh ball down to McCulloch who took a touch across the box before firing a half volley inches wide of the post.

The game seemed to be heading towards a famous 0-0 away draw for the Latics. Something that the travelling crowd have seen far too much in recent years. However inspirational captain Jason De Vos hadn't had his say.

Gary Teale won and took the corner on the right hand side of the pitch, lofted towards the back post where the powerful De Vos headed through the legs of Goodlad. 1-0 Wigan.

Vale then introduced the skillful Bridge-Wilkinson for the last 20 minutes or so, but the team had lost most of its wind knocked out by the De Vos goal.

It wasn't long until the final whistle and another well fought out 1-0 away win from Paul Jewell's men.

Jewell said: "I'm pleased, I thought we were a bit sloppy at times, but one thing we are is hard workers even though they made it difficult for us.

"When we scored, I thought they would have to throw caution to the wind and it's fair to say we could have done better on our breaks."

Player Ratings

John Filan 6
Quite a quiet day for John, a notable number of poor goalkicks on the other hand.

Nicky Eaden 7
Mr consistant put in another good game at right back. He's made that spot his own since arriving from Birmingham.

Steve McMillan 6
Either McMillan isn't completely fit and sharp or Leighton Baines is a very good left back.

Matt Jackson 7
Excellent defending, still has a terrible habit of playing hopeless long balls giving away possesion.

Jason De Vos 8
Man-of-the-match again. Kept the defence well organised, put his head in where it mattered aswell with yet another vital goal.

Peter Kennedy 5
Why does this guy start every game when McCulloch is back I'll never know. He gave the ball away too much and seemed a yard off the pace.

Gary Teale 7
Not a bad performance, but not a good performance from the Scot. Plenty of positives to build on though. Including the confidence to run and beat players down the line.

Jason Jarrett 7
Bargain of the season for me. Complimented Dinning in the centre of the park and switched play very well.

Tony Dinning 8
Playing out of his skin at the moment, long may this continue. Seemed to be a revitalised Dinning from the red mist we saw last season.

Nathan Ellington 7
Port Vale allowed the Duke too much time and space on the ball, very unlucky not to score on a few occasions.

Neil Roberts 6
Struggled in the air against two big centre back. His never-say-die spirit has to be admired and could be taken on board by some of the other members of the team.

Subs

Paul Mitchell 6
Wasn't on long enough to make a significant impact.

Lee McCulloch 8
Gave the team a direct route to goal from the left hand side. A spirited determined performance and he has got to start the Swindon game.

Andy Liddell 7
A better attitude from the little frontman, he seemed to have taken to bomber's chase everything and never-say-die attitude. Gave the team another dimension going forward.

Man-of-the-match

Jason De Vos. A true leaders performance and such an important goal. Possibly the best £600,000 ever spent.

Referee

Joslin, P ,Nottinghamshire

Dismal. Play couldn't flow, he was seriously biased towards the home team. Same as every other week really.

3

Jewell's Say

"We were the better team today, it was a hard fought win"

"We were the better team today, it was a hard fought win although the pitch was very, very heavy and we had to grind it out. I said to the players before the game. I said to the players it could be a set piece that wins it, and that's what happened."

"We're not attractive to watch at the moment but we are hard to beat. We still had the better chances today. De Vos is entitled to get on the end of those crosses because he is 6 foot 4 inches. I think we score a fair proportion of our goals set pieces because it is something we work hard."

"I'm well pleased but I just thought that in the first half we were a little bit sloppy at times, but we didn't use the pitch well enough because I thought we could cause them problems down the right hand side. We started off bright and once again I don't think John's had too many saves to make. It's a difficult place to come, but with results going our way we had to win."

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