Wanderers will not be going to Wembley in the Vertu Trophy as a second home defeat of the season ended their interest at the last-16 stage, writes Pete Oliver.
Steven Schumacher’s men failed to score at the Toughsheet Community Stadium for a third game running and their winless run extended to five games as Port Vale struck late on to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Wanderers’ interest now rests purely on their league campaign and on the back of another disappointing performance they must now respond quickly to arrest their recent form to maintain their top-six spot and try and make sure the season can still end on a high.
Schumacher had made nine changes to Wanderers’ starting line-up as they looked to find a Trophy tonic as only Josh Sheehan and Thierry Gale were retained from the side that lined up for Saturday’s League One loss at Peterborough.
That meant a combination of rest for some and opportunities for others ahead of next weekend’s derby date at Wigan when the Whites will look to get their promotion push back on track.
Vale’s concern is at the other end of the table, with Jon Brady brought in as their new manager in a bid to try and move the team off the foot of the division.
After an FA Cup success in his first game in charge, the former Northampton boss went one further with 10 changes as he weighed up more of his inherited squad.
And they produced a decent first-half performance which threw up chances for Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, whose shot from the edge of the box was touched over the top by Teddy Sharman-Lowe, and Mo Faal who headed straight at the returning Wanderers’ keeper.
After a bright start the Whites were less incisive in attack, although ex-Bolton keeper Adam Amos made a sharp stop from Aaron Morley, tipping his effort onto the top of the bar, before Thierry Gale curled a shot just wide moments before the break.
Amos was involved again 10 minutes into the second half as Wanderers raised the tempo and had their best chance yet to take the lead. A lovely through-ball from Cyrus Christie released Josh Dacres-Cogley but the full-back, getting his first taste of action since early December, couldn’t beat the former Wanderers’ man.
And with the Whites unable to build on that and force another meaningful chance it was Vale who went on to grab a winner and take their place in the last eight.
In the final minute George Hall got the better of Richard Taylor and while fellow substitute Ben Waine looked off-side as he swept in a low cross, it was no more than the visitors deserved as Wanderers’ poor run continued.
Wanderers: Sharman-Lowe; Dacres-Cogley (Cozier-Duberry 76), Christie, Forino, Taylor; Morley, Sheehan (Dempsey 64), Simons (Erhahon 82), Gale; Forss (McAtee 64), Dalby (Burstow 64). Substitutes: Broome, Toal.
Booked: Forss, Forino, Christie, Gale.
Port Vale: Amos; Lawrence-Gabriel (Clark HT), John, Humphreys (Heneghan, HT), Headley (Gordon HT); Ojo; Brown, Croasdale, Walters, Paton (Hall 82); Faal (Waine 61). Substitutes: Marosi, Stockley.
Booked: None
Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Attendance: 1,955 (170 away)