PORT VALE 1

(Loft 5)

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3

(Akinfenwa 3, Osman 45, McKay 45+2)

GOAL ATTEMPTS

Vale 9 (5 on target)

Northampton 10 (6 on target)

THE REFEREE

David Webb (County Durham) 6

CARD WATCH

YELLOW – Vale: None. Northampton: Osman (foul, 88). RED – Vale: None. Northampton: None.

THE CROWD

Attendance 4,861

MATCH RATING

Entertainment 7

ANYON, right: Looked tentative during the first half, which culminated in him gifting Northampton their second goal by dropping a regulation catch 5

YATES: While his defensive work was never pretty, he stuck to his task and forced winger Liam Davis to wander inside 6

OWEN: The only defender to really stamp his authority on the game with a string of strong challenges and the occasional well-timed block 7

COLLINS: Struggled to combat the strength and movement of visiting strikers Adebayo Akinfenwa and Billy McKay. Switched to left-back position in the second period 6

K TAYLOR: Struggled for pace against winger Paul Rodgers, but kept battling 5

DODDS: Wasted an excellent early effort. One of his quiet days stuck out on the wing 5

GRIFFITH: If the whole squad possessed the full-bloodied tenacity of Griffith, the outcome of this game may have been different 7

LOFT: Added an extra dimension to the midfield with his surging runs. Continued to contribute, despite tiring in the latter stages of the match 8

HALDANE: The inconsistent winger suffered one of his off-days. Unable to cut loose 5

RICHARDS: Played his part in some excellent build-up play by dropping deep, but poor finishing and desperate defending left him frustrated in front of goal 7

RIGG: Produced some cultured play featuring neat footwork and precise shooting during an efficient display 7

SUBSTITUTES

FRASER (for K Taylor, 46): Vale's skipper was full of running, but was unable to turn the tide in his side's favour 6

DAVIES (for Dodds, 46): The loan attacker injected a greater physical presence into the forward play 7

McCOMBE (for Haldane, 46): The big man was given a tough assignment, but was generally solid 6

Not used: Martin, R Taylor, Richman, Morsy.

NORTHAMPTON: Steele, Johnson, Beckwith, Hinton, Gilbert, Rodgers (Herbert, 81), Osman, Gilligan, Davis (Guttridge, 74), Akinfenwa, McKay (Harris, 74). Subs not used: Walker, Dyer, Curtis, Thornton.