Port Vale

Hulbert signs six-month contract
Midfielder Robin Hulbert has signed a six-month contract at Port Vale after proving his fitness in pre-season. Hulbert continued his recovery from a broken foot by playing 45 minutes of Saturday's friendly win over Torquay. The 26-year-old's contract expires at Christmas when both parties are keen to extend the deal. Boss Martin Foyle told the club website: \"He is still adding to his fitness levels slowly, but he has impressed us so far.\"

Foyle to rest Hulbert and Walsh
Port Vale manager Martin Foyle says he is prepared to leave Robin Hulbert and Michael Walsh out of the side next season to ensure they stay fit. The pair are likely to play in Wednesday's friendly with Manchester City, although not for 90 minutes. Foyle told Sir Stanley: \"Our objective is to get Walshy and Robin through pre-season. \"It's no good playing five games at the start of the year then getting injured, they need to play 30 games at least.\"

Port Vale 3-0 Leyton Orient
Leon Constantine's brace helped Port Vale to a comfortable first-day win. The hosts began slowly against promoted Leyton Orient, who went close through Gary Alexander and Wayne Corden. But they took the lead when Constantine met Akpo Sodje's cross to head home from point-blank range and he doubled the lead nodding in Jeff Smith's cross. The second of those goals on 72 minutes broke Orient and Sodje crowned a hard-working debut, adding a gloss to the scoreline, with a low, driven shot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Port Vale: Goodlad, Abbey (Walker 55), McGregor, Pilkington, Miles, Sonner, Cardle (Jeff Smith 68), Hulbert (Harsley 70), Whitaker, Sodje, Constantine. Subs Not Used: Anyon, Husbands. Booked: Jeff Smith. Goals: Constantine 43, 72, Sodje 78. Leyton Orient: Garner, Tann, Partridge, Lockwood, Mackie, Tudor, Easton, Simpson (McMahon 70), Alexander (Ibehre 69), Steele, Corden (Keith 75). Subs Not Used: Fortune, Morris. Booked: Partridge. Att: 5,631 Ref: K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Cheltenham 0-1 Port Vale
Leon Constantine took adavantage of Jamie Victory's error to earn Port Vale a win against Cheltenham. Defender Victory mis-hit a backpass early in the second half to allow Constantine to race clear and coolly slide a shot past Shane Higgs. Cheltenham's two best openings fell to John Melligan and substitute Steve Gillespie in either half, but visiting goalkeeper Mark Goodlad blocked well. Vale's threats were restricted mainly to long-range shots. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheltenham: Higgs, Gill (Vincent 74), Caines, Wilson, Victory, Melligan, Finnigan, McCann, Armstrong, Odejayi (Gillespie 74), Guinan. Subs Not Used: Brown, Gallinagh, Wylde. Booked: Odejayi, Gillespie. Port Vale: Goodlad, Abbey, McGregor, Pilkington, Miles, Whitaker, Sonner, Harsley, Jeff Smith, Sodje (Husbands 87), Constantine. Subs Not Used: Walsh, Walker, Anyon, Hulbert. Booked: Constantine, Husbands. Goals: Constantine 55. Att: 4,309 Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Vale boss spots the difference
Port Vale manager Martin Foyle knows that little things can make a big difference. Having succeeded Brian Horton in February 2004, Foyle is beginning his third full season in charge. During that time he has learned quickly those subtle nuances which can bring success. Foyle said: \"A lot of the teams in this league are very much the same. \"There are perhaps five or six teams who might pull away - as for the rest, there are places up for grabs if they can find that little bit of difference to bridge that gap. \"Very often, it's something as simple as scoring the first goal in a game that makes a difference to things like confidence. \"Over the course of a season that can add up to a lot. Foyle is not getting carried away by the fact that Vale sit top of League One after three games, but he admits: \"It's also important to get off to a good start. \"It's important to get points on the board and it's a positive start. The benefit of that is that confidence in the camp is high and players on the fringe are desperate to have a part of it.\" Foyle is under no illusions that Vale will be among League One's big hitters, but is confident they can be among the predatory chasing pack. \"It might seem a big negative but you have to be realists. Budgets do dictate and the bigger budget can generally buy the better players,\" says Foyle. \"We had to make big cutbacks from what Brian Horton had, and all credit to the board. They realised what needed to be done and they have steadily built. \"I've sold £1m worth of players in the two-and-a-half years I've been in charge, and I released more players in the summer than I brought in.\" \"We lost 14 players from last season's pre-season photo, which gives you some idea of the big turnover we've had. \"But all credit to the players who have come in, their attitude has been spot-on, whether they've been in the side or not.\" When it comes to attracting players, Foyle again aims to offer something that little bit different, a bespoke service that appeals to those clubs looking to loan their players out. Foyle says: \"We hit the loan market last season and did very well, we took in 11 players on loan last season. \"Premiership clubs have a lot of concerns when they send their young players out on loan. \"They don't want to send their players out to clubs who lump the ball long, that doesn't do the boy any good. \"They want to know if the club loaning him will play him in the right position, will he play enough games? \"But word is getting around about us and clubs are happy to send players here.\" Vale are also looking to offer that little something different to attract their own youngsters. The tendency of Premiership club academies to vacuum up all the talent threatens to deprive lower league clubs of an important income source. Foyle's sales during his time in charge include the likes of Billy Paynter and Dave Hibbert who came through the ranks, while Chris Birchall was recently sold to Coventry after his World Cup exploits with Trinidad & Tobago. Foyle explained: \"The 16-year-olds are now thinking twice about going to Premiership clubs, and hopefully they will come to clubs like us. \"Word gets around that we are not afraid to throw youngsters into the first team if they're good enough, and young lads feel if they get a chance to play regular first-team football here, they can move on. \"I work on honesty and most of the people I know in and around the game know I won't change. \"If a player's not right for us or good enough I will say so. \"Sometimes when you're wheeling and dealing you might tread on somebody's toes if you're after the same player, but if you're up front and honest, the majority of managers are magnificent and have been a great help for me.\"

Port Vale v Chesterfield
Port Vale manager Martin Foyle has an almost fully-fit squad to choose from, with striker Nathan Lowndes (Ankle) the only absentee. However, fellow forwards Leon Constantine and new-boy Akpo Sodje scored five goals already for Vale. Chesterfield could be boosted by the return of Colin Larkin who has recovered from a hamstring problem. Paul Shaw (thigh), Steve Blatherwick (back) and Gareth Davies (pelvis) are likely to miss out.

Port Vale 3-2 Chesterfield
Leon Constantine's late stunner ensured Port Vale kept up their 100% record. Chesterfield looked to have secured a point through Caleb Folan's header, but Constantine buried an outstanding 20-yard shot to keep Vale top. Chesterfield had gone ahead when Aaron Downes headed in Kevan Hurst's corner, but Constantine pulled Vale level with a neat side-foot finish. Vale made it 2-1 after the break when skipper George Pilkington headed home following Danny Sonner's free-kick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Port Vale: Goodlad, Abbey, Pilkington, McGregor, Miles (Walsh 13), Whitaker, Harsley, Sonner, Jeff Smith, Constantine, Sodje (Husbands 81). Subs Not Used: Anyon, Walker, Cardle. Goals: Constantine 44, Pilkington 77, Constantine 87. Chesterfield: Roche, Picken, Downes, Hazell, O'Hare, Hall, Niven, Allott, Hurst, Folan, Allison (Larkin 79). Subs Not Used: Jordan, Jackson, Kovacs, Bailey. Booked: Picken. Goals: Downes 23, Folan 85. Att: 5,622 Ref: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Port Vale v Preston
Port Vale will be missing midfielder Robin Hulbert who has broken a bone in his foot for the third time in a year. Vale boss Martin Foyle is again deprived of striker Nathan Lowndes with an ankle injury and could decide to rest key players. Preston skipper Graham Alexander misses out as he completes a three-match ban. Midfielders Brian O'Neil (knee) and Joe Anyinsah (thigh) could be in contention after stepping up their returns against Manchester United reserves.

Foyle hopes to keep in-form pair
Port Vale boss Martin Foyle hopes he can hang on to strikers Akpo Sodje and Leon Constantine after their goals in Vale's Carling Cup win over Preston. Vale have now won all five of their games this season with Sodje and Constantine scoring nine goals so far. \"I'm proud. It was a magnificent win over a very decent side,\" Foyle said. \"We've had some good strikers here but they've all been sold. Let's just hope those two don't disappear because it will make my job twice as hard.\"

Yeovil 1-0 Port Vale
Paul Terry's stunning strike decided a scrappy game in Yeovil's favour and inflicted Port Vale's first defeat. Terry fizzed a fifth-minute shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards. But it failed to light the touch paper on the game, with Chris Cohen and Lee Morris wasting chances to increase Yeovil's lead. Port Vale came closest to salvaging a point when Jeff Smith's 12-yard volley was met by a fine save from Glovers' keeper Steve Mildenhall. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yeovil: Mildenhall, Jones, Skiverton, Forbes, Lynch, Welsh (Barry 90), Cohen, Kalala, Terry, Gray (Harrold 76), Morris (James 63). Subs Not Used: Guyett, Davies. Booked: Welsh. Goals: Terry 5. Port Vale: Goodlad, Abbey, Pilkington, McGregor, Miles (Talbot 73), Whitaker, Sonner, Harsley (Cardle 73), Jeff Smith (Husbands 82), Constantine, Sodje. Subs Not Used: Anyon, Walker. Booked: Miles, Pilkington. Att: 4,827 Ref: C Penton (Sussex).

Vale capture QPR striker on loan
Port Vale have signed Queens Park Rangers striker Stefan Moore on an initial month-long loan. The 22-year-old will not be allowed to play against his parent club in the second round of the Carling Cup. Boss Martin Foyle told Vale's website: \"We're delighted to take Stefan on a month's loan with a view to extending it, or even a permanent deal. \"He is Championship material, and it's a great coup as there have been one or two other clubs sniffing round him.\"

Striker Matthews signs for Crewe
Crewe have signed striker Lee Matthews on a one-year deal. Matthews, who started his career at Leeds United, has been looking for a club since he was released by Port Vale in the summer. The 27-year-old, who has recently been using Crewe's training facilities, has suffered from injury problems throughout his career. But the former Bristol City striker is now fully fit after working with Crewe physio Matthew Radcliffe.

Constantine scoops monthly award
Port Vale striker Leon Constantine has scooped the League One player of the month for August. Constantine's five goals have played a big part in Vale's impressive start to the new campaign. He grabbed an opening-day double against Leyton Orient, and also notched twice against Chesterfield. The other contenders for the award were Jermaine Johnson of Bradford City, Jo Kuffour of Brentford and Nottingham Forest's Julian Bennett.

Vale chief expects loan signing
Port Vale chairman Bill Bratt says boss Martin Foyle expects to have a new face at the club by the end of the week. A loan signing should be confirmed on Friday when the window for emergency loans opens, allowing Football League teams to borrow players until November. Bratt told Sir Stanley: \"We've been scouring the loan market and hope to have a player in on Friday. \"Martin Foyle has been working very hard and hopefully on Friday we'll know more,\" he added.

Humphreys makes Vale loan switch
Port Vale have signed midfielder Ritchie Humphreys on an initial month-long loan deal from Hartlepool. Vale boss Martin Foyle told his club's website: \"We have had a great start to the season and it is better to freshen things up when we are near the top.\" Humphreys, 28, had started 230 consecutive league games for Pools before losing his place recently. Vale hope to extend the deal for the former Sheffield Wednesday player to keep him at Vale Park for three months.

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