The Poolie Bunker

Brilliant performance from the lads. Yet again the ref was woeful.

Budtz had bugger all to do but caught and punched when required.

McCunnie was fairly solid, linked up very well with Brown a few times.

Antwi didn't have his best game, both him and Nelse were guilty of sloppy marking quite a few times.

Ritchie was good, offers a lot more than Elliott in my opinion, but some of his passing was crap.

Brown looks to be getting stronger, took his goal brilliantly and he gets back and defends well.

Liddle was all over the pitch, as was Willie. Sweeney got himself forward a couple of times when he replaced the injured Boland.

Robson had the sort of game I've wanted him to have for a while, took his goal calmly, caused their right back loads of problems, plenty of end product.

I would like to see Moore replaced by either Joel or Foley. He puts in loads of effort but sees very little of the ball. I can't remember him having a chance in the four games I've seen him play. Foley was ace, the Vale defence shat themselves every time he got the ball. This is his season I reckon.

Barker got stuck in, but his miss was terrible. Virtually an open goal and he looked like he tried to place it. I hope it doesn't knock his confidence.

The ref was as bad as the one at Luton, letting plenty of blatant fouls go, including one of the highest feet 'tackles' I've seen on Robson, he was lucky not to get booted on top of his head.

We will be given much more of a chance to play football in this division, and we do it very well. It's ellish to watch. The rest of the weekend will be great now.

Cheers for that.

Any news on Bolands injury? I prey its not too bad.

Simpson on Poolsworld said that Boland was bleeding but he did carry on for a while after apparently wearing a nice head bandage, is this the reason he went off today?

Bleeding brilliant?

Hopefully Willie Boland won't be missing long, we won't lose many with that lad in the team. We are loads stronger with Willie in the middle than Sweeney......

Agreed. Sweeney is not in the same league.

Stitches in the back of his noggin. Might miss Tuesday unless he plays in a bandage. James Brown also with a head injury and Richie Barker with a....guess what....head injury......

Port Vale must be useless dirty bastads ((c)ADG).

Vale Park is rapidly becoming my favourite away day, four visits four wins, long may it continue.

Overall a very good team performance by the lads yesterday, playing some very nice football along the way. In Boland (even when sporting a Mick Tait style bandage) and Liddle we have an excellent engine room. When they get hold of a game and dictate the play, the football which results is a joy to watch.

Both fullbacks McCunnie and Humphreys turned in their best performances to date, while Brownie and Robson were full of running and were always an outlet.

Upfront, Barker, as usual worked his socks off , holding the ball up well when required and bringing
other players into play, although as poolieinnottingham has mentioned his miss was truly terrible.

Moore, again I agree with poolieinnottingham 100% effort but no real end product to date and must be close to being replaced, really hope he proves me wrong though and comes good.

Vale did have their chances too, especially in the first half, I think they lifted three good chances over the bar, Godwin and Nelson understanding is just not quite there yet, but it will come, given more match time.

Antwi, in particular looked a little of the pace at times in the first half, he didn’t seem fully confident about the injury himself, defiantly feeling his way through the game a bit. But as the game went on he seemed to grow in confidence and got better.

The referee was diabolical and in the second half he seemed intent on levelling up proceedings, his face when Brownie slotted in the second was a picture, he looked devastated.

turban heed