MISERY INCREASES AS VALE LOSE ONCE AGAIN

PORT

- Clive Youlton

Vale lost their 17th League One match in a dismal season as they went down 2-1 at Stevenage last night.The result leaves them still floundering at the foot of the table, now 12 points from safety and seemingly heading for League Two barring a dramatic turnaround in fortunes.

Jon Brady's Valiants looked as flat as a pancake on Shrove Tuesday and that sixth win of the league campaign remains elusive.

To be fair the expectations weren't high going in to a match against a side who have lost just once in League One at home all season, and that being against leaders Cardiff City.

Disregarding the Vertu Trophy game against Stockport when Brady made nine changes, there were three alterations to the Vale side that drew 2-2 with Burton Albion last time out in League One.

Andre Gray came in for his first league start up front while Jordan Shipley was a surprise inclusion and Tyler Magloire was another named in the starting XI.

Dropped from the team were Funso Ojo, Ben Waine and Ryan Croasdale - the latter not making the squad, alongside other absentees, Ben Heneghan, Jaheim Headley, Rhys Walters, Onel Hernandez and Dajaune Brown. Ben Garrity and George Byers remain sidelined through injury.

Everton loanee Martin Sherif was included on the bench for the first time.

Stevenage were on the attack from the word go and caused alarm in the Vale box inside the opening seconds.

Vale started with three centre-backs and George Hall as a wing-back on the right and Cameron Humphreys was in an unfamiliar advanced midfield position as Brady experimented.

Stevenage's Louis Thompson was booked early on for a foul on Kyle John, skipper on the night for the visitors, and Boro were showing they were up for the physical battle.