Shrewsbury Town 0 Port Vale 0 - Report and pictures

[gallery] Shrewsbury Town halted a run of two defeats but remain bottom of League One after a goalless derby draw with Port Vale, writes Lewis Cox at Greenhous Meadow.

A competitive and entertaining derby day at the Meadow failed to find the outcome it deserved after Paul Hurst's side were guilty of missing a number of clear chances.

Salop remain five points adrift of safety but will be encouraged by an, at times, exciting display full of inventive attacking.

But, particularly in the first-half and early parts of the second when Town thrived - they were guilty of passing up far too many chances.

While Vale only really threatened from set-plays, another area of concern for Hurst as his side struggled to deal with the first ball.

Hurst looked to have rolled the dice in opting for 3-5-2 for the first time in his Salop tenure, but Ryan McGivern - one of only two changes from Fleetwood, with Jayson Leutwiler the other - slotted into a more unfamiliar role of left-back.

It was the first time a conventional 4-4-2 with width had been utilised under Hurst. The boss has previously been forced into a narrow 4-4-2 diamond, but with Brown down the left and Louis Dodds down the right, Hurst had closer to his desired system.

An entertaining first-half of football did its best to warm the cockles, Shrewsbury were applauded off after some eye-catching football did everything but put them a goal ahead.

Shrewsbury were the better side going close on occasions through Ivan Toney, AJ Leitch-Smith and Dodds.

The interplay between those three was noticeable. Jack Grimmer also joined in on the right side, while Gary Deegan enjoyed a very combative first period, breaking up play and setting up Town attacks.

Town remained leaky at the back from set-plays. Ryan Taylor's dangerous deliveries were causing problems and Vale went close on a couple of occasions through Kjell Knops and Nathan Smith.

It became increasingly clear that the afternoon was that of a crucial first goal and Town looked like the side who were set to claim it at the start of the second-half.

Toney had a big penalty appeal turned down after seemingly breaking through the defence, he fell under pressure when set to unleash a left-footed strike but ref Scott Duncan was unmoved.

Another big chance came and went for Leitch-Smith who appeared to hesitate when found in the box by fellow ex-Valiant Ryan McGivern.

Atmosphere and action was cranked up as the hour mark passed. Adam El-Abd was somehow denied by Alnwick from four yards after being found by fine Brown work. Before straight down the other end dangerman Jones' rocket cracked the angle from 25 yards.

Hurst waited until 20 minutes from time to make his changes as youngster Ethan Jones arrived for Leitch-Smith, while Dom Smith arrived in an enforced change as Grimmer limped off with a worrying injury.

Any momentum and fizz built up was knocked out of the encounter, largely due to the length of stoppage for Grimmer, but also out of fear of losing it.

Things got twitchy late on as Leutwiler was fortunate to survive a dropped corner.

As it happened...

11 - Ivan Toney has the game's first effort, taking a touch well out of the air and cutting inside but it's deflected just wide at the near post. Adam El-Abd heads the resulting corner over.

20 - Clear chance and the hosts should lead. Toney's flick on is into the path of AJ Leitch-Smith who cannot finish beyond Jak Alnwick, rebound falls to Junior Brown on the edge of the box but his strike flies over.

23 - Port Vale's first effort of note sees the lively Sam Kelly emerge through a couple of challenges before unleashing a fierce low drive that is well parried by Jayson Leutwiler.

26 - The visitors increase the ante and a corner isn't properly cleared before top scorer Alex Jones turns sharply and fires over.

30 - Kjell Knops climbs highest to meet Ryan Taylor's corner but heads over.

33 - Another corner finds the unmarked Remie Streete at the back post, he heads it across goal for Nathan Smith but the defender cannot convert.

37 - Close Salop. Grimmer feeds Leitch-Smith whose cut-back finds Dodds, the midfielder's shot is on target but his Toney and trickles narrowly wide.

49 - Controversy as Toney drops in the box under pressure when he seemed through on goal. Referee is unmoved.

55 - Chance for the hosts. Ryan McGivern's low cross finds Leitch-Smith in space but the striker hesitates and cannot get his shot away.

59 - Huge opening for Adam El-Abd who had charged up to join a Salop break. Brown's twinkletoes engineer space on left, he crosses for the skipper who can control in the six yard box but Jak Alnwick pulls off a fine stop.

60 - Straight down the other end Vale almost break the deadlock. Out of nowhere, Smith unleashes a 25 yard rocket from a narrow angle the cracks a mixture of post and bar.

67 - Kjell Knops' looping cross is clawed away by Jayson Leutwiler underneath his own crossbar. Play is recycled and Streete sends a header inches wide of near post.

90+2 - Toney's looped header from Dom Smith's cross drops not far wide.