Derby County were beaten on home territory for just the second time in the 2022/23 season in Sky Bet League One as Port Vale claimed a 2-1 success at Pride Park Stadium.
Striker James Collins netted his third goal in two matches to give Head Coach Paul Warne a dream start after only five minutes of his first match in charge of the Rams with a clinical finish.
Tom Conlon blew a chance to level for Vale with 15 minutes played as he dragged a penalty wide and, despite a lively opening first 45 minutes, Collins’ goal proved to be the difference at the break.
However, it all changed in the second period.
Vale levelled shortly after the break as Ellis Harrison blasted home their second penalty of the contest, following a handball by Conor Hourihane, despite it being Richard Stearman that was booked at the time.
Collins was shown a straight red card moments after the equaliser when was deemed to have committed an act of violent conduct on a visiting defender.
Darrell Clarke’s side made their numerical advantage count as one-time Derby loanee James Wilson drove home strike from the edge of the box shortly afterwards with Warne’s side still looking to find their feet.
Derby pushed to get themselves back into the contest, but Vale stood strong and claimed the points in what was their first-ever visit to Pride Park.
Derby started strongly and on the front foot in the opening stages of a lively first half, attacking towards the North Stand, and stormed into the lead inside the first five minutes.
Following a Vale corner, the Rams hit the visitors on the counterattack with a fast and incisive move - followed by a clinical finish by Collins.
A couple of excellent defensive blocks allowed Warne’s side to get on the move and wing-back Tom Barkhuizen was the creator of the goal. The summer signing from Preston weaved his way down the left, after being picked out by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in the first instance, and crossed low across the penalty area with his left foot. Collins, fresh from his two-goal haul in the 2-0 win at Cambridge last week, thundered a right-foot effort low into the net from inside the box to send Pride Park wild.
Mendez-Laing came close to a second goal almost straight away as Derby’s electric start continued. The wideman powered through the middle of the pitch and used his pace to good effect to advance into the box and shoot goalward - but Jack Stephens in the Vale goal denied him a fourth goal of the campaign with a smart reaction stop.
Vale had a golden chance to equalise with 15 minutes played after Referee Sam Allison awarded a penalty kick. Following consultation with one of his assistants, it was deemed that Barkhuizen had brought down Dan Jones at the near post following a corner. Derby’s players were less than impressed with the decision and argued their case, but the official’s decision stood - and Vale had a real opportunity to quieten the buoyant home faithful.
Conlon was, to Derby’s delight, unable to make the most of the opportunity. Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith dived to his right, while Conlon dragged his low strike wide of the left-hand post and behind for a goal kick.
The game somewhat settled down after that frantic opening and Derby went on to enjoy some positive spells of possession. It wasn’t until the 35th minute, though, that Warne’s side had a chance to double their lead. Jason Knight’s brilliant run down the right saw him break into the box and cut back to Lewis Dobbin to shoot, but he was unable to add to his first senior goal in midweek at Mansfield Town in the Papa Johns Trophy as he hit the side netting from 12 yards out.
Derby almost had another before the end of the half as Collins’ cross from the left-side of the penalty area was deflected towards his own goal by Vale defender Nathan Smith, who managed to get back in time to hack the ball off the line and away from danger.
Collins drifted a header wide from skipper Max Bird’s cross early in the second from the penalty spot. The midfielder’s delivery from the left-side of the area was excellent, but the stretching number nine couldn’t direct his effort on target as it drifted wide of the far post.
That early momentum didn’t last, unfortunately, and Vale were awarded another penalty ten minutes into the half – and they weren’t in such a forgiving mood this time. A handball, which appeared to be by Stearman at first glance but was later confirmed to be Hourihane, presented Vale with another chance to level. Harrison stepped up and, confidently, thundered the ball into the net with his right foot to make it 1-1.
Collins, after having a foul given against him whilst competing for a cross into the box from the right side, was handed a straight red card moments after the visitors’ equaliser. Whilst looking to take his frustration out on the turf at the decision, the striker was deemed to have caught a Vale player with his arm and he was immediately sent off.
The lively atmosphere, and tackles thundering in from both sides, was only adding to the emotion on the field and, to Derby’s frustration, Vale turned the game on its head with 66 on the clock. The visitors won the ball inside the Rams’ half and Wilson, from 18 yards, drilled a low strike beyond Wildsmith to send the visiting faithful into raptures.
Derby never gave trying to force their way back into the game, but the visitors had a lead to hold on to as well as holding the advantage of an extra player on the pitch. The effort wasn’t lacking at all but, unfortunately, the Rams weren’t able to carve out a clear opportunity to get themselves back on level terms.
Despite a late surge and six minutes of added time, Vale held on to claim all three points for their short trip back to Staffordshire.
Striker Collins once again led the line well until his dismissal and was supported by the lively Dobbin for the opening hour.
Knight, revelling being back in midfield after starting the campaign at right-back, was a menace Vale throughout with his drive, energy and determination to get up and down the pitch, while Chester at the back once again impressed as he continues to make up for lost time following his early season injury lay-off.
Barkhuizen was particularly lively in the first half and his excellent feet created the opening goal of the game.
Warne and his coaching staff will have a full week with the squad on the training ground at Moor Farm next week ahead of their next League One outing, which will see them head north to face Accrington Stanley next Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane, Chester, Cashin, Barkhuizen, Bird (C) (Sibley 82), Collins, Mendez-Laing, Dobbin (Osula 60), Stearman (Roberts 75), Knight.
Substitutes: Loach (GK), Rooney, Forsyth, Thompson.
Port Vale: Stephens (GK), Jones, Walker (Politic 46), Smith, Garrity, Wilson (Odubeko 87), Conlon (C), Forrester, Massey, Harrison, McCarron (Hall 58).
Substitutes: Stone (GK), Worrall, Pett, Butterworth.
Attendance: 28,706 (2,693 Port Vale supporters).
