Port Vale: Valiants beat Newcastle as boss Adams switches formation

Newcastle Town 0

Port Vale 3

by Michael Baggaley

MICKY Adams is ready to ditch his preferred 4-4-2 system and play with three centre-backs this season.

The Vale boss used the 3-5-2 system for the first time in Saturday's 3-0 win at Newcastle Town, and has revealed he is planning to start with it in the season-opener at home to Rochdale on August 8.

He said: "I said all along when I first came to the club that I want to play 4-4-2, but I am not sure we have the players to do that. It is as simple as that.

"If you play 4-4-2, you need to have people who can get wide and get crosses into the box."

Vale notably used a 3-5-2 formation eight years ago when Brian Horton's team won the Autoglass Trophy at the Milennium Stadium in 2001.

Horton had the luxury of a back three of Sagi Burton, Matt Carragher and Michael Walsh, with Micky Cummins and Alex Smith as the wing-backs.

The decision to use an extra centre-back under Horton certainly wasn't a negative move as Vale played arguably their best football of the last decade. It took a little imagination to leap from Millenium Stadium glory back to this pre-season friendly at Lyme Valley.

But there was nothing in the game to dissuade Adams from at least giving the 3-5-2 line up another trial.

He said: "We threw a system on them without any work and generally we coped quite well, so that has given me a little bit of food for thought.

"The three centre backs all looked comfortable in the first half and the second half.

"We limited Newcastle Town to very few chances and then caused them problems with our three in midfield so we imposed ourselves on the game."

Adams's plans could depend on whether he can find the money to add trialist Kris Taylor to the wage bill. The 25-year-old former Walsall and Hereford left-back is a free agent and has impressed both defensively and going forward in his two trial games against Rocester and Newcastle.

He looks well suited to wing-back, as does Adam Yates on the right, having played regularly in that position for Morecambe last season.

However, Adams will learn more against Wolves on Wednesday than he did against a Newcastle side who had seven players on holiday.

The North West Counties outfit never threatened a repeat of their 2-1 victory over Stoke City last week, although Vale also struggled to carve out chances in the opening half hour.

They made the breakthrough two minutes before the break when keeper Jaz Singh could only parry Simon Richman's shot, allowing Taylor to fire home from close range.

Adams made nine changes at the break, and saw his side ease home in the second half as Newcastle used the second period to give their squad players some match fitness.

Steve Thompson hit the bar before winning a penalty when he was tripped by Rob Molloy. The striker took the spot kick himself, sending keeper Chris Howarth the wrong way on 79 minutes.

Vale's third arrived two minutes later when James Lawrie pulled the ball back to Luke Prosser whose shot from the edge of the area took a deflection on its way past Howarth.

Prosser claimed the goal, but the centre back is less interested in that than in his improved first-team chances in Adams's new formation.

THE TEAMS

NEWCASTLE TOWN: Singh (Howarth,51), Willis, Molloy, Espley, Sheldon, Wilkes, Foy, Boast, Morton, Thompson (Miller,56) Budrys. Subs: Cartlidge, Turner, McMann, Jones, Wade, Green, Protheroe, Mould, Miller.

VALE (first half): Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Collins, Owen, K Taylor, Fraser, Richman, Loft, Richards, Glover.

(Second half): Martin, Stockley, McCombe (Beeston,83), Edwards, Prosser, Collins (Davidson, 62), Griffith, Howland, Dodds, Lawrie, Thompson.

Referee: Tony Bates (Meir Heath)

Attendance: 1,160