Match ends, Port Vale 1, Walsall 3.
Port ValePort Vale1WalsallWalsall3
Elijah Adebayo scored two goals to help secure Walsall a much-needed victory at Port Vale.
The Saddlers claimed their first win in six thanks to their leading scorer, who reached 10 for the season with his double.
The visitors led after six minutes as Adebayo pounced on Alfie Bates' ball over the top to roll it in as goalkeeper Scott Brown and centre-back Nathan Smith both hesitated.
Port Vale had struggled to make any headway in the first half but drew level in the 33rd minute, with a goal to leave Walsall keeper Liam Roberts red faced.
Perhaps unsighted, Roberts somehow allowed Tom Conlon's drilled free-kick from a central position 35 yards out to evade him and hit the middle of the net.
But Adebayo restored the lead 10 minutes into the second half, heading in Tyreik Wright's cross to take his personal tally to six from his six games against the Valiants.
Victory was sealed with a calamitous own goal by Port Vale, Brown failing to control David Fitzpatrick's backpass and allowing it to roll into the bottom corner of the goal.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Brown
- 15MillsSubstituted forGibbonsat 85'minutes
- 16Brisley
- 6SmithBooked at 75mins
- 24Fitzpatrick
- 17TaylorSubstituted forBurgessat 86'minutes
- 4JoyceSubstituted forCullenat 72'minutes
- 10ConlonBooked at 60mins
- 19AmooSubstituted forHurstat 66'minutes
- 14Guthrie
- 7Worrall
Substitutes
- 2Gibbons
- 3Crookes
- 13Cullen
- 20Burgess
- 27Hurst
- 29Bailey
- 31Collinge
Walsall
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Roberts
- 24WhiteSubstituted forVincentat 75'minutes
- 6Scarr
- 4Sadler
- 3Jules
- 12BatesSubstituted forSinclairat 62'minutes
- 8KinsellaBooked at 79mins
- 27WrightSubstituted forNormanat 70'minutes
- 10GordonBooked at 71mins
- 15McDonald
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forLaveryat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Norman
- 7Sinclair
- 9Lavery
- 14Cockerill-Mollett
- 23Osadebe
- 28Vincent
- 29Reid
- Referee:
- Lee Swabey
Match Stats
Home TeamPort ValeAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 1, Walsall 3.
Post update
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Port Vale).
Post update
Cameron Norman (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Josh Gordon (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Liam Kinsella with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kurtis Guthrie (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Conlon (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mark Cullen with a headed pass.
Post update
Foul by Kurtis Guthrie (Port Vale).
Post update
Mat Sadler (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Offside, Port Vale. Kurtis Guthrie tries a through ball, but Mark Cullen is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Frank Vincent.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Scott Burgess replaces Jake Taylor.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. James Gibbons replaces Zak Mills.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Zak Jules.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Conlon (Port Vale) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Worrall.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Liam Kinsella.
Post update
Shaun Brisley (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Josh Gordon (Walsall).
Post update
Attempt missed. Caolan Lavery (Walsall) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Stuart Sinclair following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Shaun Brisley (Port Vale).
