Match report
Port Vale Defeats Rotherham 1-0 in League One Clash
Port Vale
1–0
FT
Rotherham
Apr 7, 2026
Port Vale secured a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Rotherham in a closely contested League One match at Vale Park on Saturday. The decisive strike came early in the game as R. Croasdale put Port Vale ahead, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. Despite the late pressure from Rotherham, Port Vale's defensive resilience held firm to secure three valuable points.
Key Facts
- • Port Vale 1-0 Rotherham
- • Goal: R. Croasdale (6')
- • Croasdale receives yellow card (57')
- • Port Vale makes five substitutions throughout the game
- • Rotherham makes three substitutions in the second half
Lineups
Port Vale
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting XI
- 46 Joe Gauci (G)
- 6 Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel (D)
- 24 Kyle John (D)
- 25 Cameron Humphreys (D)
- 15 Liam Gordon (D)
- 18 Ryan Croasdale (M)
- 12 Rhys Walters (M)
- 33 George Hall (M)
- 8 Ben Garrity (M)
- 11 Ethon Archer (M)
- 21 Martin Sherif (F)
Substitutes
- 45 Andre Gray
- 19 Ben Waine
- 9 Jayden Stockley
- 5 Connor Hall
- 27 Elijah Campbell
- 26 Jordan Shipley
- 13 Ben Amos
Rotherham
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Starting XI
- 13 Ted Cann (G)
- 2 Joe Rafferty (D)
- 15 Jamal Baptiste (D)
- 3 Zak Jules (D)
- 6 Reece James (D)
- 4 Liam Kelly (M)
- 19 Josh Benson (M)
- 11 ArJany Martha (M)
- 20 Duncan Watmore (M)
- 24 Harry Gray (M)
- 10 Sam Nombe (F)
Substitutes
- 29 Gabriele Biancheri
- 22 Denzel Hall
- 23 Jack Holmes
- 28 Brandon Cover
- 41 Josh Ayres
- 26 Hamish Douglas
- 50 Ben Childs
Timeline
-
6' Port Vale Goal · Normal GoalR. Croasdale
-
57' Port Vale Card · Yellow CardR. Croasdale
Foul
-
61' Port Vale subst · Substitution 1Off: M. Sherif · On: B. Waine
-
61' Port Vale subst · Substitution 2Off: R. Croasdale · On: J. Stockley
-
61' Port Vale subst · Substitution 3Off: E. Archer · On: Andre Gray
-
63' Rotherham subst · Substitution 1Off: A. Martha · On: G. Biancheri
-
72' Rotherham subst · Substitution 2Off: J. Rafferty · On: D. Hall
-
77' Rotherham subst · Substitution 3Off: D. Watmore · On: J. Holmes
-
87' Port Vale subst · Substitution 4Off: L. Gordon · On: C. Hall
-
88' Port Vale subst · Substitution 5Off: G. Hall · On: E. Campbell
Match Stats
| Stat | Port Vale | Rotherham |
|---|---|---|
| Fouls | 15 | 11 |
| Pass Accuracy | 55% | 66% |
| Offsides | 4 | 1 |
| Red Cards | — | — |
| Total Shots | 7 | 10 |
| Corners | 4 | 6 |
| Total Passes | 292 | 340 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 0 |
| Blocked Shots | 2 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 2 | 5 |
| xG | — | — |
| Shots off Target | 3 | 3 |
| Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Goals Prevented | — | — |
| Accurate Passes | 161 | 224 |
| Shots Inside Box | 3 | 9 |
| Saves | 5 | 1 |
| Shots Outside Box | 4 | 1 |
Key Match Notes
- ▸ R. Croasdale's early goal (6') gave Port Vale a crucial lead that they maintained throughout the match, providing a significant psychological edge.
- ▸ Port Vale's defensive solidity and tactical substitutions in the second half, particularly bringing on players like J. Stockley and M. Sherif, helped to neutralize Rotherham's late surge.