Port Vale 1-0 Coventry City
Coventry City: Burge, Grimmer. Willis (Beavon 83), Davies, McDonald, Stokes, Doyle, Bayliss, Shipley (Ponticelli 83). Biamou (Nazon 68), McNulty. Subs: O'Brien. Haynes. Maycock . Stevenson,
Port Vale: Boot, Davies, Smith, Gunning,. Pugh, Kay, Tonge, Harness. Whitfield,(Denton 67) Barnett (Montana 46). Pope. Subs: Lainton,Kelly, De Freitas, Montana, Turner, Forrester.
Goals Nathan Smith 79
Att 7,127
Coventry City went down to a 1-0 defeat at Port Vale.
Boxing Day 2017 and the Sky Blues started the second half of their League Two campaign with a trip to Port Vale.
It was a cold day with a hint of snow in the air as the Sky Blue Army, which included support from Germany, made their way into the ground to see the Sky Blues with one change from the side which beat Wycombe on Friday.
The noise from the City supporters under the scoreboard was excellent as Vale got the game underway.
City in their Sky Blue kit, were soon under pressure but the five at the back cleared the early threats, mainly caused by Marcus Harness, described by the City support as a poor man's Jodi Jones or words to that effect.
Tom Bayliss ran really well for City in midfield, helping to attack and defend when required in a game which was still very even after thirty minutes of play.
As another blue flare emitted it's smoke and odour, giving the police cameraman a chance to capture to tons of waving City supporters, a City corner came to nothing and Burge caught a header from a 37th minute free kick.
There were plenty of repercussions as the stewards were tried to make some ejections but things calmed down and it was back to the beer shampoos and "Team Of Gary Greens" chants that City supporters at this ground are known for during the half-time interval.
The home side made a change at the break and the half started with a Jack Grimmer cross sailing well wide of Boot's goal
Grimmer went closer in the 58th minute when he got on a McNulty and hit Boot's left hand to win a corner.
How the referee missed a shove on Marc McNulty which would have given City a 62nd minute penalty, was beyond many of the City support who again had cause to criticise the standard of refereeing in this basement division.
The Coventry City support was demanding Duckens Nazon be introduced and in the 68th minute, he was, coming on for Max Biamou who had worked hard for very little reward.
More poor Jodi Jones impressions followed and in the 79th minute, a corner came over and Nathan Smith headed in.
Chris Stokes should have levelled but blasted over before Robins last throw of the dice was to send on Beavon and Ponticelli who sent over a very wide cross in the 88th minute.
City had not performed all afternoon against a Vale side who were picking up the bookings for time wasting and it was another defeat.