Rangers' fifth successive defeat left them in deep relegation trouble after
they failed to turn territorial supremacy into goals at Vale Park.
Gerry Francis' side could have been three up early on, but Vale survived the
onslaught before Anthony Gardner and Carl Griffiths scored the goals which could
secure their First Division future.
Rangers, heading Vale only on goals scored as both hovered above the drop zone
before kick off, made a lively start with Steve Slade and Chris Kiwomya
combining well.
And Vale had a real let-off in the seventh minute when Slade blasted wide from
eight yards after Gavin Peacock found acres of space in the danger area.
Vale's shaky start continued as Paul Beesley's under-hit back-pass allowed
Slade to nip in and skate around Paul Musselwhite.
The Rangers striker pulled the ball back for Peacock, but Beesley recovered to
atone for his mistake by blocking the midfielder's goal-bound shot.
Neil Aspin was booked for a foul on live-wire Slade in the 11th minute with
Vale rocking and the visitors well on top.
Slade was proving a real handful and he drew a magnificent save from
Musselwhite after meeting Peacock's cross with a bullet header.
But Vale, much to the delight of the home fans, went ahead in their first
serious attack in the 22nd minute.
Dave Brammer's free-kick to the far post was headed back across the six-yard
line by Allen Tankard and 6ft 5ins centre-back Gardner bundled in his first goal
in League football.
Ian Baraclough of Rangers was booked for a foul on Griffiths as the stakes
became higher and the action not so open as in the early stages.
But Vale were finally getting into the contest, and Griffiths almost added a
second when he just failed to connect with a Tankard cross.
Vale weathered early second-half pressure to regain their composure, and
Rangers made a double substitution in the 59th minute.
Leon Jeanne and Kevin Gallen replaced Tim Breacker and Paul Murray with Gerry
Francis going for broke.
Gallen had a chance to make an instant impression as he headed wide from a
Baraclough corner, but Vale broke to claim a priceless second goal in the 66th
minute.
Richard Eyre fired in a terrific cross from the right, and Griffiths stole in
to head powerfully home at the near post.
Vale were content to soak up late pressure and comfortably kept Rangers
efforts at arm's length.
Teams:
Port Vale: Musselwhite, Aspin, Tankard, Brammer, Beesley, Eyre,
Gardner, Smith, Foyle (Lee 69), Griffiths (Bent 89), Widdrington.
Subs Not Used: Barker.
Booked: Aspin.
Goals: Gardner 22, Griffiths 66.
QPR: Miklosko, Breacker (Jeanne 59), Darlington, Baraclough,
Plummer, Linighan, Kulcsar (Rowland 78), Peacock,
Murray (Gallen 59), Slade, Kiwomya.
Booked: Baraclough, Linighan.
Att: 9,851
Ref: F Stretton (Nottingham).
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