'Valiants need to make tweaks in order to avoid poor campaign'

PORT Vale's League One return has been a rollercoaster of grit, grind, and growing pains. Our campaign so far has been more survival thriller than feelgood sequel.

- PORT Vale fan SCOTT LINGARD

Devante Cole was signed to lead the line and has delivered goals.

In the league, wins against Barnsley (2-0) and Exeter City (2-0) showed flashes of promise. Devante Cole has been the talisman, netting four of Vale's 11 league goals and proving that even in a struggling side, a striker with instinct can still shine.

Unfortunately, the lows have been more frequent, and more painful. A humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Stockport was a tactical unravelling in real time, with the visitors scoring three times in 16 minutes while Vale's defence looked like it had been left in the changing room.

Vale's goal difference of minus four and a meagre 0.79 goals per game tell the story of a side struggling to convert chances.

Despite the doom and gloom of the poor league form, the cup has proved much better with wins away at Blackpool and Championship high flyers Birmingham, before bowing out to one of the best teams in Europe, in a well played 2-0 defeat against a strong Arsenal team, and in the FA Cup a 5-1 demolition of Maldon & Tiptree.

Darren Moore's summer overhaul, nine permanent signings and three loans, was ambitious, but cohesion has been elusive.

His tactical setups have ranged from pragmatic to puzzling, and while the squad has depth, it lacks rhythm.

After the departure of Lorent Tolaj to Plymouth, Moore brought in the experienced Devante Cole. Cole, Vale’s top scorer and the heartbeat in attack.

His late equaliser against Wimbledon and brace against Exeter were clutch moments that kept the season from spiralling.

Ronan Curtis with his last-minute penalty against Mansfield was pure drama, and he’s shown flashes of creativity that Vale desperately needs.

The defence has conceded 15 goals already, and looks more and more like rabbits in headlights.