In-form Port Vale were too strong for struggling Grimsby as they comfortably won 4-0 at Vale Park.

Vale go 10th as Town slip into relegation zone

In-form Port Vale were too strong for struggling Grimsby as they comfortably won 4-0 at Vale Park. Grimsby, whose manager Mike Newell is now under considerable pressure, saw their day made worse when Danny Boshell was sent off five minutes from time. The midfielder was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Lewis Haldane and Vale could even afford the luxury of seeing Marc Richards' resulting penalty saved by Josh Lillis. In a tedious first-half, Louis gave Vale a 43rd minute lead with a left-foot volley from six yards and Vale's victory was as good as sealed when Richards challenged debutant Josh Lillis and Tommy Fraser's free-kick sailed over both of them and into the net in the 68th minute. Lillis atoned with his spot-kick save from Richards, but was helpless when Gareth Owen headed powerfully home from Fraser's 87th-minute corner and Lee Collins completed the rout in stoppage time after hapless Grimsby failed to clear Fraser's right-wing free-kick.