Port Vale (0) 0 Swansea City (0) 2
Being top of any league always carries inherent pressures but Swansea are doing their best to persuade us otherwise. Now unbeaten in 16 league games after victory at Port Vale, Roberto Martinez's side continue to cut a relentless, unerring swathe through League One.
"We know from now until the end of the season there are no easy games," Martinez said. "Everyone has something to play for."
The old adage of would be champions playing poorly and still winning was evident here as the leaders overcame a slow start at Vale Park to eventually see off Vale.
It could have been so much better for the home team. When you are cut adrift and sinking fast, you need your players to grab every opportunity presented to them and the unfortunate Luke Rodgers could not keep the ball down with his volley from just six yards out after a Kyle Perry knockdown in the 22nd minute. It had been a promising opening period for Port Vale, but their hectic forward play somehow mirrored the desperate state of the club. Lots of huff and puff but not quite the gumption to make it count.
Before long the Swansea forward line carried the greater threat and were awarded a penalty, albeit dubiously, when Andy Robinson went down in the area and Jason Scotland scored. Thomas Butler's scrambled effort then somehow found the net via a post, a Port Vale defender and Ferrie Bodde.
"Sometimes when you come to teams fighting for their lives they will go at you and we had to adapt to that," Martinez added. "Make no mistake, Port Vale don't deserve to be bottom and they gave us a great game."
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Match details
Port Vale (4-4-2): Anyon; Mulligan, Pilkington, Lowe, Talbot (Miller 78); Herd, Harsley, Howland (Rocastle 80), Whitaker; Rodgers (Glover 78), Perry. Substitutes not used: Slater, Cardle. Booked: Whitaker. Swansea (4-4-2): De Vries; Rangel, Tate, Monk, Painter; Bodde, Pratley, Britton, Robinson (Brandy 77); Scotland, Bauza (Butler 62). Substitutes not used: Austin, O'Leary, MacDonald. Goals: Scotland (63 pen), Bodde (76). Booked: Bauza. Referee: Ray Lee (Essex). |
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