Vale solid after sending off and Brewers can't break through

BURTON Albion could find no way through a packed Port Vale defence after the Pirelli Stadium visitors were reduced to 10-men by the 15th-minute sending-off of captain George Byers.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Vale could also make nothing of their often promising counterattacks as the two Staffordshire sides slugged out a goalless draw short on quality.

It will be one to forget and both sides must hope - will not characterise their seasons from hereon.

If the Brewers looked toothless in this one, a quick reminder that they had scored twice in each of their previous matches might provide some balance.

The pre-match surprise for Burton supporters was the absence of captain Udoka Godwin-Malife, who has a slight ankle injury.

Finn Delap came into the back three, while Jack Armer returned from injury at left wing-back and the Brewers were captained by Jake Beesley.

The first action in either goalmouth saw Mitch Clark send a long throw from the right into the Burton box but it was cleared in the third minute.

Lorent Tolaj could not quite reach a flick on in the box in the fifth minute, the ball falling comfortably for keeper Jordan Amissah.

Vale had made the better start but there was otherwise little action of note in the early stages. Charlie Webster launched a deep free kick from the right in the 11th minute and it was well reached by Jasper Moon beyond the far post but he could only send it into the arms of keeper Marko Marosi.

The game exploded into life in the 15th minute when Webster broke out of defence and was scythed down by Vale captain George Byers.

It looked like a certain yellow card but referee Scott Oldham produced a red and certainly the challenge angered a few of the Burton players; there was a brief scuffle between several on both sides.

Back with the football, while Burton's intent was good, their execution was lacking in the first 20 minutes, although Vale nearly helped them when Jesse Debrah's awful back pass almost let in Fabio Tavares in the 21st minute before Marosi just reached the ball ahead of him.