Seven Wonders! Observations from the Reds Report!

Audio Version

1) Dodgy first 20 minutes for Reds

It is fair to say the visitors flew out of the traps with Barnsley unable to get out of their own half for the first twenty minutes. Vale`s number 9 Harrison was a handful. Had it not been for a poor referee decision not to award the visitors a penalty when Kitching pushed Harrison in the back as a cross came into the Barnsley box or a superb one handed save by debutant Roberts, Neill Collins afternoon could have been very different.

It was clear to see that Kitching and Lopata need game time to get an understanding together. At times the Reds backline looked ragged with Williams and Cadden helping out and clearing the Reds lines time and again.

2) One goal up and never looked back

Yet with one clinical counter, the Reds were one goal up and never looked back. Another debutant O`Keeffe intercepted a Vale ball down the line and sprinted upfield putting in a superb cross for Cole to finish with aplomb. O`Keefe settled in well on the right hand side and it was a shame to see him limp off early on.

3) Great crossing from either flank

Another cross that Vale struggled to deal with came from the trusted left foot of Cadden with a Vale defender unable to stop the ball from nestling into the net. Scoring right on half time effectively sealed the game for the Reds who clearly relaxed once the first goal went in.

Another great cross flew into the opposition box early in the second half for Cole to smash it home with confidence. Cole was having one of those games where as a striker you cannot do anything wrong. Cole`s strike partner Max Watters failed to get much service and was feeding off scraps wrestling with the Vale defence, but sometimes that's the way games go.

By the time Cole's hat trick came, you just knew it was one of those days. The away fans had seen enough with plenty streaming out once Cole won the match ball. What had started reasonably well for the Valiants, was turning into a disaster.

4) Kane benefitted from Styles being stifled

Callum Styles had the least touches (47) of any other player on the pitch and everytime he received the ball had a couple of blue shirts swarming him. With many Vale players wrestling Styles to the ground, it allowed Herbie Kane the space to dictate play instead.

Kane had a decent game and was always in the thick of everything the Reds did well. His through ball for the marauding Liam Kitching was superb with Kitching smashing the ball into the Vale net.

5) Think I have lost count!!

I must try to keep up. Another couple of great crosses were again clinically executed by the heads of Jon Russell and Andy Dallas. Dallas looked quick during his time on the pitch. The sooner Dallas is match sharp, Neill Collins could have a headache with all these strikers in good form.

6) Some notable performances

Whilst Cole rightly gets the headlines with a hattrick, mentions should go to Roberts who looks a man mountain in goal. He made a few great saves and it was pleasing to see how pumped he was when celebrating towards the Ponty End when the goals were going in.

Lopata looks like a unit at the back. Strong and not shy to put a tackle in, he did appear to be blowing somewhat with 20 minutes to go, but his fitness levels will improve.

All the substitutes who came on performed well. Theo Chapman especially stood out with his attacking down the right hand side.

7) New rules

The new timekeeping rules mean now that most games will finish well after 5pm, good luck on a night game we could be playing until midnight!! All across the EFL and today in the Community Shield, we have seen goals going in after 100 minutes. Whilst no one wants to see constant time wasting, players will have to manage their fitness and concentration levels for over 100 minutes per game.

Some of the yellow cards were unnecessary too but the referee was sticking to the letter of the law. Roberts did nothing wrong to get a booking for apparent time wasting, I could write a post all about the ref but that would take the gloss away from what was a clinical performance from the reds.

I`m sure on Friday night, Collins and Stead couldn't have dreamt this performance and scoreline but they will take it no doubt. Onto Tranmere on Tuesday.