Scunthorpe United v Port Vale

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

League Cup

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy (Slocombe 25), Williams, Mirfin, Spence, Canavan, Sparrow, McCann, O'Connor (Togwell 118), J.Wright, Hayes (Woolford 108), Forte.
Subs not used:
Byrne, A.Wright, Morris, Boyes.

Port Vale :
Martin, Stockley (Yates 90), McCombe, Collins, Owen, Griffith, Loft (Richman 78), Fraser, Taylor, Richards, Haldane (Taylor 81).
Subs not used:
Lloyd-Weston, Howland, McCrory, Dodds.

SULSESC REPORT

by Jon Dunn at Glanford Park

WHILST this game may not live in the memory quite like the games at Chester and Shrewsbury where we won promotion, or the visits to Wembley for Play-off and Cup Finals, this was indeed an historic night as we made the fourth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in our history. Now let's just hope for Arsenal, Liverpool or Man. U. away in round four.

In honesty, we cruised through this game, although it took us time to break down a stubborn, well organised Vale defence. We had 41 attempts on goal which included hitting the post twice, some good saves from the Vale 'keeper and a miss in the last couple of minutes of normal time from Jordan Spence which rather unfairly was the effort Sky Sports chose to concentrate on.

Vale were limited to a few half chances but themselves missed an open goal when it looked harder to miss than score.

When Joe was injured, falling awkwardly over Canavan's back when claiming a ball on the edge of the box, young Slocombe was thrown into the action. He wasn't called upon very often but when he was, he made some good saves and always looked to distribute the ball quickly and, in most cases, was accurate. He didn't command his area as well as Joe but that will come with time. He looks a good prospect for the future.

O'Connor stood out once again in midfield and went close with two free kicks and it was his deflected shot, off Hayes' backside, which broke the deadlock shortly into the first-half of extra time. Shortly afterwards, McCann played a neat one-two on the edge of the box and finished neatly. If this had been a boxing match, the referee would have called it off there and then, but to Vale's credit they continued to try and create chances but we were playing 'Ole football', knocking it around and making them chase us.

All in all, a good, professional performance which will hopefully lead to a decent game and pay packet in round four and not Barnsley or Peterborough away!