Match report from Hillsborough
Sheffield Wednesday 3 Port Vale 0
July 2016stSunday 31
At Hillsborough
Pre-Season friendly
Attendance: 6,711
Vale’s final test in their pre-season preparations was always going to be a big task, with Sheffield Wednesday one of the favourites to reach the ‘promised land’ that is the Premier League, after just missing out last season.
The home defence was rarely threatened with Vale struggling to make any headway inside the Wednesday half of the field, but despite shipping three goals, the defence didn’t do too bad a job.
The words ‘Consilio et Animis’ feature on the Wednesday badge. Translated from Latin it means ‘Wisdom and Courage’. Bruno Ribeiro will need all his wisdom to prepare for Vale’s opening fixture of the season away to Bradford City and the players will have to be courageous for Vale to bring home the three points from the Coral Windows Stadium.
We were informed before kick-off that the reason the game was scheduled for a 4.30 kick off was to give match day staff at Hillsborough an opportunity to rehearse for Wednesday’s opening fixture of the season when they also kick off at that time to appease television audiences.
Vale boss Bruno Ribeiro made ten changes to the side that beat a young Manchester United Xl a day earlier, with Calvin Mac-Intosch the only player to start both games while Wednesday fielded what is expected to be their starting line up in their opening fixture against Aston Villa.
minutes of the game.thVale continued with their footballing principles, knocking the ball about nicely right from the kick off, but had to rely on Ryan Boot to keep the home side out in the 5
The Vale ‘keeper reacted instinctively to deny Wednesday defender Daniel Pudil, pushing his fierce drive over the crossbar.
GOAL: got up well at the back post to meet a left wing corner form Ross Wallace to plant a firm header past Boot.Tom Lees minute when thThe home side went in front in the 19
Vale had a chance to level when Jamar Loza had been brought down, and Anthony de Freitas lined up the free kick.
It looked to be a big ask to beat Wednesday ‘keeper Keiran Westwood from all of thirty yards, and so it proved – de Freitas’ attempt flew high over the crossbar.
Vale made two changes at the commencement of the second half. On came Chris Mbamba and Quentin Pereira for Nathan Ferguson and Jamar Loza.
GOAL:, whose first time shot from 18 yards left Boot flat-footed.Fernando ForestieriSix minutes into the second period Vale conceded a second, when Remi Streete’s header fell to the feet of
GOAL: drove the ball low past the Vale ‘keeper.Almen Abdi minute when the Vale defence was opened up with a neat move from the home side and with just Boot to beat, thVale fell further behind in the 57
minute. On came goalkeeper Miguel Santos for Boot, Anthony de Freitas for Sebastien Amoros and Anton Forrester for Carlos Saleiro.stVale made a triple substitution in the 61
minute Billy Reeves replaced Remi Streete and JJ Hooper came on for Sam Kelly.thThen in the 74
Vale almost conceded again when Brannon played a corner kick out to Abdi, whose shot thudded against the upright and Lees’ follow-up shot was saved by Santos.
minute following what appeared to be a bang on the head and he was replaced by Dan Turner.thJames Gibbons was forced to go off in the 90
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Jake Kean, Cameron Dawson, Jordan Thorniley, Filipe Melo, Atdhe Nuhiu, Connor O’Grady, Jack Stobbs, Jeremy Helan, Lucas Joao, Marnick Vermijl, Almen Abdi, Modou SougouSUBS:Kieran Westwood, Liam Palmer, Jose Semedo, Gary Hooper, Tom Lees, Kieran Lee, Steven Fletcher, Ross Wallace, Daniel Pudil, Barry Bannan, Fernando Forestieri.
PORT VALE: Miguel Santos, Anthony de Freitas, Anton Forrester, Chris Mbamba, Billy Reeves, Omar Haughton, Dan Turner, JJ HooperSUBS:Ryan Boot, James Gibbons, Ryan Lloyd, Sebastien AMoros, Remie Streete, Calvin Mac-Intosche, Jamar Loza, Paulo Tavares, Carlos Saleiro, Sam Kelly, Nathan Ferguson.