Latics win at Vale Park for the first time in 12 years

Last updated : 01 March 2008 By The Chairman

The Latics took their show on the road again with a trip to Port Vale, historically not a happy hunting ground for the visitors. However, Athletic came away with a comfortable 0-3 victory, their first at Vale park for 12 years. Vale now need a miracle to excape relegation as they sit firmly rooted in bottom spot.

Jordan Robertson got the show going in the 23rd. minute when he volleyed in from a David Livermore cross from the left. The Vale supporters though that he may have been offside and they might have had a point but it was 0-1 to the lads. In the 78th. minute another contoversial moment occurred after Pilkington was penalised for a back pass for which keeper Anyon had to dive to save. From the free kick Chris Taylor touched the ball to Neal Eardley who's shot was deflected into the net. Substitute Matt Wolfenden (pictured) gave the killer punch in the last minute when he chipped Anyon to make the scoreline look good for the Latics but very harsh on the home side who didn't deserve to lose 0-3.

Manager John Sheridan, instead of being elated with the 0-3 scoreline, admitted that he was disappointed with certain parts of the display. He told Latics World, "The most important thing we wanted to achieve is to come here and win the game and we did that. I'm happy with the result but not the performance because we didn't play well. We were comfortable before half time and if we had taken better care of the ball we could have created a lot more chances. But we rode our luck at times and Mark Crossley had to make one or two decent saves as they pressed. I don't think it was so much Port Vale's great football as us not being switched on and getting sloppy. Then we've got a break, it was never a free-kick but it was a decision that's gone our way and luckily enough we scored from it. That was game over and I'm delighted for Matty Wolfenden because he produced a great finish for the third goal."

"It was never a backpass and I couldn't believe he gave it. If their lad's meant that backpass then he should be playing in the Premier League. It's clear he just caught the ball wrong and it's gone back through to his goalkeeper. It was never a free-kick but it changed the game because they were on top before we got that break. We let Port Vale back into the game before that and all credit to them. We can play a lot better but I won't grumble too much. No matter who you're playing, to go away and win 3-0 is a good result."