Port Vale striker Tom Pope scored four goals against his old club as Micky Adams' men beat big-spending Rotherham.

The game looked all over by the half-hour mark when Louis Dodds, Ashley Vincent and Pope's first two goals, both from close range, put Vale 4-0 up.

Michael O'Connor pulled one back on 31 minutes before Daniel Nardiello's early second-half penalty, for handball against John McCombe, made it 4-2.

But Pope struck twice more, again from close range, to complete the job.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rotherham United manager Steve Evans told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Well I think the first half is as bad as it's been, defensively.

"They go four up and our back four and two central midfielders looked all over the place.

"We lacked discipline to mark people, it was absolutely embarrassing for 30 minutes."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Port Vale

  • 01 Neal
  • 05 McCombe
  • 14 McDonald (Owen - 80' )
  • 24 Duffy Booked
  • 07 Loft
  • 09 Myrie-Williams (Taylor - 82' )
  • 15 Shuker
  • 18 Morsy
  • 08 Dodds
  • 10 Vincent (Williamson - 88' )
  • 11 Pope

Substitutes

  • 12 Johnson
  • 02 Yates
  • 06 Owen
  • 03 Taylor
  • 22 Lloyd
  • 23 Burge
  • 19 Williamson

Rotherham United

  • 01 Shearer
  • 03 Wilson (Tonge - 32' )
  • 05 Sharps
  • 06 Mullins
  • 18 Hunt Booked (Morgan - 46' Booked )
  • 10 O'Connor Booked
  • 11 Evans (Ainsworth - 76' )
  • 15 Pringle
  • 19 Noble
  • 16 Odejayi
  • 17 Nardiello

Substitutes

  • 21 Warrington
  • 02 Tonge
  • 20 Morgan
  • 07 Ainsworth
  • 08 Taylor
  • 09 Revell
  • 22 Agard
Ref: Russell
Att: 5,544

Match Stats

Shots

7 10

On target

7 7

Corners

2 4

Fouls

4 15

Live Text Commentary

91:29 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

87:39 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Vincent leaves the field to be replaced by Ben Williamson.

87:15

Michael O'Connor has a drilled shot. Save by Chris Neal.

82:58

John McCombe takes the direct free kick.

82:58 Booking

Booking Craig Morgan booked for unsporting behaviour.

82:51

Handball by Craig Morgan.

81:01 Substitution

Substitution Robert Taylor replaces Jennison Myrie-Williams.

79:20 Substitution

Substitution Gareth Owen on for Clayton McDonald.

77:43 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Pope - Port Vale 6 - 2 Rotherham Tom Pope fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Port Vale 6-2 Rotherham.

77:19

Chris Neal fouled by Daniel Nardiello, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Neal.

75:37

Chris Neal takes the indirect free kick.

75:37 Substitution

Substitution Lionel Ainsworth is brought on as a substitute for Gareth Evans.

75:37

The referee blows for offside.

74:44

Johnny Mullins challenges Jennison Myrie-Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Chris Shuker from left wing, save by Scott Shearer.

69:53

Clayton McDonald concedes a free kick for a foul on Kayode Odejayi. Free kick crossed by Michael O'Connor, John McCombe makes a clearance.

67:13 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Pope - Port Vale 5 - 2 Rotherham Tom Pope gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Port Vale 5-2 Rotherham.

66:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jennison Myrie-Williams by Gareth Evans. Chris Shuker crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Johnny Mullins.

65:27

Chris Shuker takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Gareth Evans.

62:49

Corner taken by Ben Pringle from the right by-line played to the near post, Doug Loft makes a clearance.

61:58

Doug Loft restarts play with the free kick.

61:58 Booking

Booking Michael O'Connor is given a yellow card.

61:53

Michael O'Connor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jennison Myrie-Williams.

61:21

Corner taken by Ben Pringle, Chris Neal makes a save.

60:42

Doug Loft is penalised for a handball. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ben Pringle from right wing, Doug Loft gets a block in.

58:40

Centre by Gareth Evans, Daniel Nardiello takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

56:13

Johnny Mullins is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

55:09

Unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Ian Sharps results in a free kick. Doug Loft restarts play with the free kick.

53:41 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Nardiello - Port Vale 4 - 2 Rotherham Daniel Nardiello scores a power penalty. Port Vale 4-2 Rotherham.

52:43

The referee penalises John McCombe for handball.

50:46

Unfair challenge on Daniel Nardiello by John McCombe results in a free kick. Shot comes in from Daniel Nardiello from the free kick.

47:31

Dale Tonge challenges Jennison Myrie-Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sam Morsy, Ian Sharps makes a clearance.

47:09

Effort on goal by Michael O'Connor from 20 yards. Save by Chris Neal.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Hunt goes off and Craig Morgan comes on.

45:00 +3:07 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +2:35

David Noble challenges Sam Morsy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Neal takes the direct free kick.

44:36

John McCombe challenges Kayode Odejayi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Pringle restarts play with the free kick.

42:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael O'Connor on Doug Loft. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

40:15

Nicky Hunt concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Vincent. Doug Loft restarts play with the free kick.

36:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Hunt on Ashley Vincent. Direct free kick taken by Doug Loft.

34:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clayton McDonald by Kayode Odejayi. Sam Morsy restarts play with the free kick.

33:32

Nicky Hunt produces a cross, Header from deep inside the area by Daniel Nardiello goes over the bar.

31:28 Substitution

Substitution Dale Tonge comes on in place of Laurence Wilson.

30:55

Ben Pringle provided the assist for the goal.

30:55 Goal scored

Goal - Michael O'Connor - Port Vale 4 - 1 Rotherham Michael O'Connor scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Port Vale 4-1 Rotherham.

27:20

Assist on the goal came from Tom Pope.

27:20 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Vincent - Port Vale 4 - 0 Rotherham A goal is scored by Ashley Vincent from just outside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Port Vale 4-0 Rotherham.

26:39

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by David Noble, clearance by John McCombe.

24:51

Nicky Hunt challenges Ashley Vincent unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ashley Vincent restarts play with the free kick.

22:44

Ben Pringle takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a save.

20:54

Sam Morsy provided the assist for the goal.

20:54 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Pope - Port Vale 3 - 0 Rotherham Tom Pope finds the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Port Vale 3-0 Rotherham.

19:50

Effort on goal by Ashley Vincent from 6 yards. Save made by Scott Shearer.

18:03

Foul by Ian Sharps on Tom Pope, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Sam Morsy.

17:12

Corner taken by Chris Shuker played to the near post, Laurence Wilson manages to make a clearance.

15:27

Richard Duffy provided the assist for the goal.

15:27 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Pope - Port Vale 2 - 0 Rotherham Tom Pope finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Port Vale 2-0 Rotherham.

14:26

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ben Pringle, clearance made by Louis Dodds.

9:57

Shot from just outside the box by Michael O'Connor misses to the left of the goal.

9:03

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Ben Pringle.

9:03 Booking

Booking Booking for Richard Duffy for unsporting behaviour.

8:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Pringle by Richard Duffy.

6:52

The assistant referee signals for offside against Kayode Odejayi. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

4:58

Assist by Chris Shuker.

4:58 Goal scored

Goal - Louis Dodds - Port Vale 1 - 0 Rotherham Louis Dodds scores a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Port Vale 1-0 Rotherham.

3:25

Chris Shuker delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Ian Sharps makes a clearance.

3:25 Booking

Booking Nicky Hunt goes into the book.

3:20

Unfair challenge on Doug Loft by Nicky Hunt results in a free kick.

2:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Morsy by Michael O'Connor. John McCombe takes the free kick.

1:09

The official flags Tom Pope offside. Scott Shearer takes the indirect free kick.

0:20

Effort from outside the area by Michael O'Connor goes wide right of the goal.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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