Walsall 0 : 1 Port Vale - Pope unseats Saddlers

Posted Sunday, February 15, 2015 by PA

Tom Pope notched his first goal since returning after three months out with a knee injury to give Port Vale a 1-0 win over Walsall at the Banks's Stadium.

It was also Vale's first win in five games and revived their play-off hopes while seriously damaging the top-six aspirations of Walsall, who slipped to their first defeat in five matches.

The Saddlers were denied what looked a blatant penalty in the 23rd minute when Ryan Inniss, making his debut for the visitors on loan from Crystal Palace, appeared to pull down Jordy Hiwula who was clean through on goal, but referee Andy D'Urso ignored the claims.

Then, after Walsall goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell had saved from Ben Wiliamson, Vale took a 28th-minute lead, with Pope out-muscling a defender to head in a Carl Dickinson cross.

Walsall were unlucky not to be level when a drive from Romaine Sawyers came back of a post eight minutes later.

Despite dominating the second half the Saddlers could not find a way through Vale's rugged defence. Andy Taylor saw a free-kick easily saved then, in stoppage time, Jordan Cook saw his low drive saved by Chris Neal at the second attempt.