Match ends, Port Vale 3, Crewe Alexandra 0.
Port ValePort Vale3CreweCrewe Alexandra0
Crewe Alexandra's four-season stay in League One was ended by their local rivals as Port Vale sentenced them to relegation.
Louis Dodds scored both goals as Vale's victory confirmed their neighbours' return to League Two.
Dodds hit the opener in only the third minute before sealing victory seven minutes from time.
JJ Hooper then curled a superb third for Vale in injury time to relegate Crewe with still five games remaining.
Having flirted with relegation for the past two seasons, the Alex have struggled particularly over the second half of the season.
This was a sixth straight defeat for Steve Davis's side, who have now won just once since late November - and only six times all season.
Early goal sets Vale on their way
The Valiants got off to a flier, when Crewe failed to clear Michael O'Connor's left-wing corner and Dodds pounced to drive in a low left-foot shot off the post from 14 yards.
Crewe improved after making a double substitution at half-time, but Vale wrapped up the points with Dodds' second goal when he smashed into an empty net after Hooper's shot had been saved by Alex keeper Ben Garratt.
Hooper then received a pass from Michael Brown to curl in Vale's third with a terrific right-foot shot from 16 yards which flew inside the stranded Garratt's left-hand post.
'Sad day' for the Alex - Davis
Port Vale manager Rob Page told BBC Radio Stoke:
"it was an excellent performance, as it was a difficult test for us in many aspects. I know Crewe are rock bottom and they have gone down today but he made changes.
"Every time they play against us he changes it and goes more physical, and sort of goes away from what he normally does where they get the ball down and play.
"So, we knew we had to match that. We got off to the best start and that's what I asked them to do. Start fast come out of the traps and get an early goal. We certainly did that.
Crewe manager Steve Davis told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It's a sad day for the football club, but we've not gone down because of today. It's because of what has happened over the course of the season. We've not been able to win enough games.
"I've been talking to the players about what we can learn, tried to be diplomatic with them and realise what it means.
"We're disappointed that we've not taken it to the death like we have before. We all share the emotions of being relegated. It's not a nice feeling. It hurts just as much as a manager as it did as a player."
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 21Alnwick
- 2Purkiss
- 4StreeteBooked at 73mins
- 6Duffy
- 3Dickinson
- 18KellySubstituted forMooreat 53'minutes
- 42Grant
- 8O'ConnorSubstituted forBrownat 82'minutes
- 11Foley
- 10Dodds
- 20Leitch-SmithSubstituted forHooperat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 5McGivern
- 7Birchall
- 15Hooper
- 17Brown
- 19Moore
- 23Boot
- 25Robinson
Crewe
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Garratt
- 2Turton
- 5RayBooked at 1mins
- 4Davis
- 3GuthrieSubstituted forBinghamat 45'minutes
- 41Bakayogo
- 20JonesSubstituted forCooperat 77'minutes
- 15Fox
- 31Kirk
- 39UdohSubstituted forAinleyat 45'minutes
- 9Haber
Substitutes
- 6Nugent
- 11Cooper
- 12Dalla Valle
- 13Richards
- 18Bingham
- 25Ainley
- 36Hitchcock
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 5,771
Match Stats
Home TeamPort ValeAway TeamCrewe
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away3
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away0
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 3, Crewe Alexandra 0.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 3, Crewe Alexandra 0. JJ Hooper (Port Vale) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michael Brown.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sam Foley (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by JJ Hooper (Port Vale).
Post update
George Ray (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 2, Crewe Alexandra 0. Louis Dodds (Port Vale) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Michael Brown replaces Michael O'Connor.
Post update
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David Fox (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Attempt saved. Byron Moore (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Richard Duffy (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Ben Garratt.
Substitution
Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. George Cooper replaces James Jones.
Post update
Byron Moore (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Zoumana Bakayogo (Crewe Alexandra).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Purkiss (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by Byron Moore (Port Vale).
Post update
Zoumana Bakayogo (Crewe Alexandra) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Jones (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
