Port Vale 0-0 U's: Staying Up Again, Olé Olé
Celebrating the prospect of a fourth season in League One after the U's do the business on the final day again
The U’s are staying up, olé olé!
The magnitude of the game was worthy of a novel. An opportunity for United to secure a fourth successive season in League One, and continue building on their hugely impressive growth over those seasons. And to do it all in a turbulent season (to say the least) with a squad that has struggled for much of it.
The reality of it was, thankfully, really really boring. U’s knew a point would be enough, and Monk understandably set them up to get just that. In the second half, even when Burton were 3-0 down and Cheltenham were drawing, he didn’t waver from that tactic. It was great to see in action one of those quirks of a football season when wingers turn around and go back to the keeper on the ball every time they get it, actively trying not to score.
It meant that what could have been a really tricky and nervy afternoon was navigated safely. It was, in truth, a really really dull football match. It is impossible to write a proper match report about it, but it’s also everything we wanted it to be, and I’ve never been so grateful to not have many words to use to describe a football match.
So for now, instead of reading 500 words about one of the most turgid and uninteresting 0-0s in history, go have a look at the League One table and think about how exciting the future can be for United. It’s been a slog at times but, despite a trickier than ever division next year, we are still making steps in the right direction to be able to tackle it.
Thank you for reading all our content on the website this year. We’ll be back with an exciting revamped offering to support the podcast next season.
But for now, enjoy the summer, and up the U’s!