Port Vale ease relegation fears with battling victory at Crawley

Posted Sunday, January 20, 2019 by PA

Port Vale eased their relegation fears with a first-half goal from Ricky Miller to earn a first win in eight league games with a 1-0 victory at Crawley.

Vale displayed plenty of battling qualities throughout as Crawley went down to a seventh defeat in their last ten league games.

Vale went into the game with manager Neil Aspin saying his fate was in the players’ hands and the visitors wasted a chance to settle their nerves early on.

A slip by defender Mark Connolly let in the recalled Miller but Connolly ran back to block a goal-bound shot.

Aspin called up midfielder Adam Crookes, on loan from Nottingham Forest, for his debut and he later had a low shot blocked by Connolly.

Dominic Poleon shot wastefully wide for Crawley before Vale broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through Miller, who had come into the side in place of injured top scorer Tom Pope.

A through-ball from Luke Hannant play in Miller and calmly tucked home the rebound after his initial shot was parried by goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

Crawley threatened an equaliser when Filipe Morais had a long-range effort tipped over, but the Reds had a let off shortly after the break when James Gibbons was narrowly off target.

Reds goalkeeper Morris thwarted efforts from Miller in quick succession before Crawley substitute Luke Gambin put a shot-come-cross just wide, but the hosts rarely threatened to rescue a point.