Fisayo Dele-Bashiru solo-strike seals pre-season victory for Sheffield Wednesday at Port Vale

Port Vale fell to a 2-1 home defeat to League One side Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday evening.

Although the Valiants walked away empty handed, there was plenty for the players, staff and the returning fans to take from the game.

The game started in a lively fashion, which gave the fans something to sing about as they were welcomed back to Vale Park for the first time in 18 months.

Tom Conlon unleashed the first shot of the tie as he nicked the ball away from the Owls’ midfield – however new goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell made the first save of his Sheffield Wednesday career.

After ten minutes, Lucas Covolan was soon called into action himself as the Brazilian shot-stopper was quick to react and claim Korede Adedoyin’s backheeled effort from four yards out, much to the admiration of the Port Vale faithful.

Only a minute later, a long throw from Dan Jones was won by Devante Rodney but he was fouled on the right, level with the edge of the box. Up stepped Tom Pett to take the subsequent free-kick, which bounced around before finding Rodney who lashed it on target, only for it to be blocked by the water-tight Wednesday defence.

With 16 minutes played, Wednesday defender Liam Palmer raced down the left wing and cut in, beating Nathan Smith, before firing a shot on goal which was deflected wide and the visitors had a corner.

The ball was swung in by Lewis Wing, but Vale calmly dealt with the danger and cleared their lines.

Ten minutes later the Owls had another corner, another Wing in-swinger, that met the head of towering defender Dominic Iorfa who’s powerful header from six-yards out beat Covolan and broke the deadlock.

Vale made a swift reply as a long throw from Jones was propelled into the penalty area before finding it’s way to David Worrall on the right. The 31-year-old squared the ball into the crowded six-yards box and Conlon met it, poking the ball home from close range and levelling the game.

The home side were after a second, as Conlon rounded off some excellent build-up play, but the Vale captain’s shot was easily claimed by Peacock-Farrell.

With the interval approaching, Covolan made two more outstanding saves which kept the tie level – firstly a World-Class save as the 30-year-old tipped over Adedoyin’s attempt over the bar, before moments later denying Olamide Shodipo’s fierce cross-goal shot.

Into the second period, Tom Pett dispatched a cross into the Wednesday box which found the head of defender Ryan Johnson, but his headed attempt flew over Peacock-Farrell’s goal.

This was the only notable chance until the hour mark, much to the testament of both defences. Both sides made changes in the search for a winner in the meantime – for Wednesday on came Fisayo Dele-Bashiru with 25 minutes remaining.

Seconds later, Vale had a great opening, as Pett won the ball back and laid it off to Brad Walker but his shot was blazed high and wide into the Bycars Stand.

The home side wasted another chance just seven minutes later as Worrall nodded the ball down for James Wilson, and like Walker’s shot it was blasted over.

Vale would live to rue their wasted chances as Dele-Bashiru was allowed to run straight through their defence, beating several Valiants defenders, before rocketing a shot home past Covolan’s outstretched arms with 12 minutes remaining.

In the dying embers of the game, Joe Wildsmith picked up a pass from Chey Dunkley and the Vale were awarded an indirect free-kick from 13 yards out. Mal Benning stood over the ball and laid it off to Walker who’s powerful shot was struck well but was blocked by Charles Hagan.

The Burslem side piled on more late pressure, as Jones had the chance to launch in another long-throw, but it fell to Ben Garrity who headed over.

Just a minute later, Pett’s pinpoint cross was met by Lewis Cass but the Newcastle United loanee’s shot also went wide of the target.

In the end it was visitors Sheffield Wednesday who did enough to get the job done in Staffordshire.

Despite the defeat, Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke told members of the local press that he was still happy with his side’s performance:

“There’s a lot of positives, obviously against a team that I think is going to be in the top six of League One. It was nicer with a slicker surface out there, we moved the ball well at times and created a few good opportunities.

“I thought the press worked really well at times, the willingness to press high, we won a few balls back very well and the shape of the team was decent at times.

“It was just disappointing really on the aspect of defending set plays – that was probably the biggest disappointment today, that they scored two goals from two dead balls which we know in League Two can’t happen. So there needs to be a lot more work in that area of our game.”

Clarke’s side now turn their attention to their final pre-season friendly against National League outfit Chesterfield on Saturday before kick-starting their League Two campaign away at Northampton Town.

For the Owls, they make the trip to Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday in their final pre-season outing – but before that they host Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Sunday.

Line-ups

Port Vale: Covolan, Smith (Cass, 61′), Martin, Johnson (Benning, 61′), Worrall, Pett, Conlon (Garrity, 78′), Walker, Jones, Wilson (Proctor, 78′), Rodney.

Unused Substitutes: Stone, Legge, Hurst, Trialist.

Sheffield Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell (Wildsmith, 67′), Jack Hunt (Brown, 46′), Iorfa (Brennan, 76′), Hutchinson (Dunkley, 45′), Palmer, Green (Galvin, 76′), Wing (Dele-Bashiru, 45′), Luongo, Adeniran (Hagan, 67′), Shodipo (Alex Hunt, 67′), Ayedoyin.

Unused Substitutes: Waldock.

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