Port Vale were offered some cheer at the bottom of the League One table as they started 2026 with a 5-1 victory over 10-man Blackpool.
Tom Bloxham had put the Seasiders in front with his third goal in as many games, but a James Husband red card in first-half stoppage time changed the direction of the contest. Jayden Stockley, George Byers, Jaheim Headley, Devante Cole and Ronan Curtis were all on the scoresheet for the managerless Valiants after the break, as interim head coach Jamie Smith ended a 12-game winless run in emphatic fashion.
Bloxham Strike Punished by a Red Card
Bloxham fired past Ben Amos in the 26th minute for the opener, giving Blackpool the early advantage they had been seeking.