Favourable sequence didn't have the expected outcome

PORT Vale were about to embark on a frustrating time in their promotion quest. CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants’ season...

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THREE red cards in five League Two matches and injuries to key players had tested Port Vale as they moved into a critical period.

They were about to embark on three away matches in the next four, all of which were viewed as winnable, against Tranmere Rovers, Fleetwood Town and Colchester United. Thrown into the mix was a home clash with 20th place Harrogate Town.

Wins may well have been the theory but in practice it was a different story.

Vale didn’t win one of those four matches.

Not that it seemed to matter in a division where all the top teams threw away points like people discarded worthless scratchcards.

Vale were without Ben Garrity, Jaheim Headley and Jayden Stockley, who boss Darren Moore insisted would all be out for “some time.”

Ronan Curtis was available, though, thanks to his red card against Salford being overturned.

“It’s really good news to have that one rescinded because it was another outstanding performance, three points for the win and it was a slight blemish after the game,” a relieved Moore told the press before the clash with Tranmere. “To get that rescinded is outstanding work by the club.

“What people probably didn’t see was what happened after the game. We were able to show the footage to the referee, in terms of what the referee thought he saw at the time. It clearly shows nothing of that nature happened.”