Huddersfield Town (2) 2
Stewart 2 (pen), Irons 30.
Port Vale (0) 2
Gardner 48, Foyle 71.
Saturday 9 October 1999
Attendance 11,885
Reported by Martin Sykes
Huddersfield Town: Vaesen, Jenkins, Monkou, Armstrong, Lucketti, Beech, Gorre, Irons, Stewart, Sellars (Donis 79), Wijnhard.
Subs not used: Margetson, Thornley, Dyson, Horne.
Booked: Monkou.
Port Vale: Musselwhite, Walsh, Brammer, Butler, Gardner, Minton (Tankard 90), Widdrington, Foyle, Rougier, Carragher, Bogie (Eyre 37).
Subs not used: Glennon, Corden, Aldridge.
Booked: Brammer.
Ref: S Mathieson (Stockport)
In front of yet another disappointing crowd, Town were taught a big lesson
by a battling Vale side who refused to give in despite looking a few
divisions below us for the first 35 minutes.
With the boost of a distinctly dodgy penalty decision within two minutes of
the game - Sellars going down at the slightest of accidental touches - Town
stroked the ball around with such arrogance and belief that it was easy to
imagine an avalanche of goals against an overwhelmed Vale.
Playing some of the best football of an already bright season, Town looked
as good as anything seen since 1969/1970, and Irons' stunning half volley
after 25 minutes gave us a 2-0 lead which was surely unassailable.
Stewart was quite magnificent in this early spell and his probing and
linking play should have produced more goals for a rampant Town attack. He
was played in himself once only to be denied by the onrushing Musselwhite,
who then made a brilliant save from a Marcus header which was ultimately
cleared off the line once the pace had been taken off it.
Armstrong and Sellars had a great deal of joy on the left, but some decent
crosses - including a beauty from Wijhnard - were not attacked strongly
enough to give Town the cushion their play had deserved.
On 35 minutes, yet another flowing move saw Stewart hang on to the ball
before releasing Jenkins to sweep a great low ball in for Sellars who missed
a straightforward chance.
By now, the crowd were in raptures at the display and it started to go to
the players' heads. Over elaboration and "showboating" started to creep in
at a totally inappropriate time. Had they been 4-0 up, and they could and
should have been, the showing off may have been understandable, as it was
the complacency gave Port Vale the sense that if they continued to plug away
and work hard, something might just go their way.
The alarm bells could be faintly heard as Town started to give away
possession and lose some of their earlier assurance and in the 5 minutes
before half time, Town nearly paid for their cockiness and had Vaesen to
thank for a good point blank stop and Monkou and Lucketti to thank for some
last ditch blocks.
Some of the gloss of an otherwise compelling and flowing performance was
knocked off, and the second half should have seen Town get their feet on the
ground and work hard to counter the confidence they had handed Vale on a
plate.
It didn't happen. Instead, sloppy passing and an inability to up the work
rate at a crucial time lead to Vale's first goal from a poorly defended
corner. Once more, Vaesen didn't dominate at set pieces, and Gardner had an
easy free header following some terrible attempts at clearances.
The lifeline served only to make Vale work ever harder and Town could not
get the possession their fluent attacking style needs. In fact, they began
to look embarrasing following the first half frills.
A defence which had looked largely untroubled before the break suddenly
looked uncomfortable defending spaces deserted by overrun midfielders.
The equaliser was, almost inevitably, popped in by that eternal nemesis,
Martin Foyle. I have nightmares that in 10 years time Vale will still be
bringing this bloke on every time they play Town, even if he's being helped
on by a couple of nurses, a la young Mr Grace.
In truth, Brian Horton's charges exploited some poor defending by
Armstrong - he'd gone walkabout - and the lack of aggression of Scott
Sellars who found himself at full back. Somehow, Vale's winger managed to
squeeze over a cross to be turned home by the ageing Foyle (isn't it about
time you bloody retired, Martin!?).
With 15 minutes to go, Town suddenly realised that their unfancied opponents
were well capable of securing not just one point, but all three by virtue of
their traditional British value of stickability and heart. It would have
served them right if the troublesome Gardner had kept his feet and scored
after latching on to a lazy pass.
Then the chances came thick and fast as, at last, some (but by no means all)
of the fluency of the first half.
Sellars was denied by an excellent Musslewhite save. This was only a prelude
to two fantastic saves from Stewart and Beech, the first being a Gordon
Banks like swoop to a perfect Stewart header followed by an acrobatic tip
over from a Beech shot destined for the top corner.
So, Town were a little unlucky then? I'm afraid not - goalkeepers are part
of the opposition team and for Musslewhite to be inspired was a big plus
point of the Burslem based sides performance.
Hopefully, Town will learn that it is not enough just to have the talent in
this notoriously tough division, they have to apply themselves for 90
minutes and battle. I think the lesson is timely - there are no mugs in this
league, and an exhibition which bordered on taking the piss was punished by
a dogged and resourceful Port Vale.
Vaesen - Not decisive enough, kicking poor and generally below par at the moment.
Jenkins - Superb first half and did little wrong in the second.
Armstrong - Possibly the best 45 minutes of the season but faded as an attacking influence after the break and wasn't particularly solid defensively.
Monkou - Solid and rarely troubled but has to take some of the blame for Vale's first.
Lucketti - Excellent in the air and still a great source of confidence.
Sellars - Passed the ball exceptionally well. Missed two chances that should have been converted.
Irons - Brilliant first half but lost the midfield plot along with Gorré. Superb goal.
Gorré - Clearly very talented and pulled most of the strings in the good spells. Went missing a bit in the second half.
Beech - Worked very hard, but should perhaps play alongside Irons with Gorré moving right.
Stewart - Excellent. Worked very hard, had some quite sublime touches and but for Vale's brilliant keeper would have scored 3.
Wijhnard - After a decent first half, started to lapse in to a physical tussle with their centre half. he had little help from the referee, but should have changed his game to suit.
Donis (for Sellars) - On too late, but did a lot to reassert Town's dominance.
MOTM - Stewart