Port Vale overcome Tom Sang red card to see off Accrington Stanley

Port Vale moved up to sixth place in League Two with a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley, despite playing the majority of the match with 10 players.

Tom Sang was sent off shortly after setting up Jayden Stockley’s early opener, and although Tyler Walton equalised for the visitors after the break, Lorent Tolaj was on hand to grab the winner for Vale.

The victory sees Darren Moore’s side rise one place in the table and stretches their unbeaten run to five games, while Stanley have dropped two places to 21st – six points clear of the relegation zone.

Vale took the lead in the seventh minute through Stockley, who headed home from Sang’s cross to make it three goals in as many games.

Sang’s assist proved to be his only telling contribution to the match as he was given a straight red card for a tackle on Ashley Hunter just before the quarter-hour mark.

Stanley got themselves back on level terms in the 51st minute, with half-time substitute Walton scoring from close range after Hunter’s attempt had come back off the crossbar.

However, the hosts re-established their advantage five minutes later as Tolaj coolly found the back of the net after latching on to captain Ben Garrity’s through ball.

Despite growing pressure from the away team, the Valiants held on to secure a valuable three points.