Match report: Port Vale 0, Dagenham & Redbridge 1

League Two

Port Vale 0

Dagenham & Redbridge 1 (Guy 25)

by Steve Shaw

FIERCE protests against Dean Glover turned to bewildered apathy as his managerial prospects endured another knife to the heart against the Daggers.

Around 30 disgruntled fans cornered the under-fire boss outside the stadium after his struggling side returned an 11th home defeat of the season.

To his credit, Glover fronted up to them and conducted an impromptu Q & A session during which the former Valiants defender declared: “I’ve been here for 18 years, my heart is here. It hurts me (the club’s current situation) as much as it does you.”

However, the stand-off was far more of a cordial affair than the angry protests, against Glover and the club’s board, which engulfed their League Two clash against Luton Town late last month.

Meanwhile, the 4,090-strong crowd - the worst home gate of the season - seemed resigned to defeat from the outset as they created an eerily quiet atmosphere inside Vale Park.

The majority, excluding a measly travelling support numbering 51, chatted among themselves for most of the first half while their side laboured on the pitch.

Chewing the fat over the England cricket team’s tense climax to their Test series in the Caribbean or discussing last night’s Champions’ League fixtures was understandably preferable to fully exposing themselves to yet more misery.

Their down-trodden expectations were met when Jamie Guy headed home the game’s only goal in the 25th minute.

After the match Glover admitted: “It wasn’t a pretty game to watch.

“Dagenham don’t give you time to play and they are quite direct.

“At times we produced some decent football but our end product has got to be better than it has been.”

Vale were unlucky not to level matters after striking the woodwork in either half, although they were rarely allowed to dominate.

While Glover’s men looked like a side bereft of all confidence, the visitors showed the urgency of a team desperate to kick-start their play-off push by halting a run of six games without a win.

The Daggers went for Vale’s throat from the start, and at times, switched from a fluid 4-4-2 to a daring 3-3-4 when turning defence into attack.

Vale, on the other hand, struggled to get a foothold in the contest, and not for the first time this season, failed to impose their game on the opposition.

Full-backs Paul Edwards and Anthony Griffith showed some resistance with tough-tackling performances. Meanwhile, keeper Joe Anyon Keeper continued his good form with another solid display between the sticks.

In August’s reverse fixture, which finished in a 1-1 draw, Daggers midfielder Sam Saunders caused havoc with his deliveries from corners.

Saunders was at it again last night, but his wicked inswinging crosses were largely repelled by Anyon’s pro-active approach.

Vale again lost the battle in the middle ground as Dagenham’s quartet of Soloman Taiwo, Doug Loft, Matt Ritchie and Saunders ate up the ground with a mixture of power and pace.

In contrast, Vale wingers Scott Brown and Louis Dodds looked decidedly out of sorts, although new loan signing Paul Marshall enjoyed an encouraging home debut in central midfield.

Dodds was only recalled to the starting line-up after left-back Lee Collins injured his hip during the warm-up, while fellow defender Sam Stockley was promoted to the bench.

There was no space in the squad for loan midfield Adnan Ahmed even though he was available after serving a one-match ban.

The loss dropped Vale one place to 18th position in League Two as fellow strugglers Bournemouth, Luton, Accrington and Rotherham all earned victories last night.

However, the prospect of relegation out of the Football League is still a distant one with nine points separating Vale from the relegation and second-from-bottom Grimsby.

While John Still’s outfit started well they never tested Anyon’s goal in the opening stages.

In the ninth minute, Daggers keeper Tony Roberts collected a 16-yard drive at his left-hand post from loanee Kevin Gall before fellow striker Marc Richards lashed a shot wide.

Saunders swung over a typically devious corner on 20 minutes and Edwards had to be alert to clear off the line.

Loft struck a half volley wide from the edge of the box soon after before Guy broke the deadlock.

The goal originated from the left flank from where full-back Scott Griffiths crossed with pinpoint precision to pick out an unchallenged Guy, who glanced his header into the right-hand corner from 10 yards.

Neither side created anything of note until the Valiants almost levelled matters three minutes before the break when Dave Howland fed Griffith on the right.

Roberts flapped and missed the full-back’s cross which allowed Dodds to take a touch of the ball at the far post before angling a careful side-footer against the bar.

Gall and Howland wasted half chances from long range at the start of the second period.

On the hour mark, Anyon cleared another Dagenham corner using his fist and was relieved to see Saunders hit the loose ball over the bar from 10 yards.

Vale suffered a blow in the 66th minute when centre-half Gareth Owen was stretchered off after sustaining an ankle injury and was promptly replaced by Luke Prosser.

Richards met Marshall’s corner four minutes later but blazed over. In the 70th minute, Anyon’s flung himself to his right to deny Loft’s 20-yard rocket.

Anyon was allowed to smother the ball on 77 minutes as Ritchie was put through on goal but a Ben Strevens pass. But the midfielder was betrayed by a poor first touch, allowing Anyon to sweep up.

Seconds later, Gall smashed a first-time angled effort against the bar after breaking free of Dagenham’s rearguard.

Much of the crowd seemed perplexed when Glover opted to replace right midfielder Brown for defender Stockley, while natural winger Simon Richman continued to watch on from the bench.

Saunders crashed a stinging 20-yard shot straight at Anyon in the 78th minute before a moment bordering on the comical, if not tragic, occurred.

Stockley was well positioned to collect a sweeping pass on the right, only for a rampaging Gall to effectively tackle his own player and deflect the ball away.

Substitute Glen Southham surrendered possession to Gall on the right side of Dagenham’s box. However, the striker’s chipped-in cross was easily gathered by Roberts.

Commenting on Guy’s goal, Glover added: “They put in a great ball because their lad (Griffiths) has crossed it with venom and the big lad (Guy) up front has got on the end of it.

“We could of dealt with the danger prior to that, but we didn’t, and we got punished.

“We’ve got to keep believing we can get out of the trouble we’re in at home.”