Port Vale Battle Hard in Goalless Draw Against League Leaders Cardiff
So, here’s what happened last night at Vale Park – and if you missed it, you missed quite a scrap.
Port Vale hosted Cardiff City in what turned out to be a gritty, goalless draw, but honestly, the scoreline doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story. This was the first league meeting between these two in over two decades – yeah, 22 years! And with both teams coming into this season from completely different directions – Cardiff having dropped from the Championship, and Vale climbing up from League Two – you'd expect a gulf in class. But on the pitch? That gap was nowhere to be found.
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From the first whistle, it was clear Vale weren’t just there to survive – they were there to compete . And they did exactly that. The midfield trio really stood out, especially George Byers, who led by example, pushing Cardiff back and dictating play with confidence. Even though possession was dominated by Cardiff, with over 60%, it was Vale who looked more dangerous for large parts of the match.
The Valiants had the ball in the net once – ruled offside – and even hit the bar, while Jesse Debrah's header in the first half and a wild clearance from Cardiff’s Calum Chambers that smacked the post nearly gave Vale the lead. Cardiff, on the other hand, looked flat. The slick attacking display that helped them beat Peterborough on opening weekend was nowhere to be seen. Their new boss, Brian Barry-Murphy, probably left frustrated – his side barely registered a threat.
The most telling part? Cardiff’s striker Yousef Salech was left isolated, bloodied from a stray boot, and tightly marked all night. He barely got a sniff. And Port Vale’s Mitch Clark, playing right wing-back, was constantly driving the team forward. His energy alone was a highlight – even getting the ball in the net, though again, ruled offside.
Both sides did make several substitutions in the second half to try and tip the balance, but ultimately, neither found that breakthrough. Despite some late drama – yellow cards, crunching tackles, and six added minutes – it ended 0-0.
For Port Vale, it’s their first point of the League One season after a tough opening loss. For Cardiff, the draw still puts them top of the table – but it’s a warning shot: this division isn’t going to be a walk in the park.
Next up, Vale face Blackpool in the EFL Cup, while Cardiff will look to bounce back at home against Swindon Town. If last night was anything to go by, both teams have some serious work ahead.
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