Division One: Port Vale 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 - Andy Neild's verdict

ABBA tribute band Arrival are due at Vale Park between now and Christmas.

And if Vale and Rovers fans want to see a winner take it all, they'd be advised to buy a ticket.

For these two teams have now played out 180 minutes of League action this season and neither side has managed a goal.

And this latest stalemate was almost a carbon-copy of the bore-draw they served up on the opening day of the season.

Hangovers are often rife at this time of year and Rovers certainly appeared to be suffering from the after-effects of a punishing schedule of five games in 14 days.

After champagne performances against the likes of Fulham and Charlton recently, Tony Parkes's Super Troupers were missing their sparkle against struggling Vale.

Even Parkes admitted this was maybe a game too far although atrocious conditions played their part.

A swirling wind and a slippery surface made constructive football impossible at times as players frequently lost their footing.

But Rovers also lacked that vital spark of invention which is often required on days like these.

Damien Duff has been the man providing that recently with his old-fashioned brand of wing-wizardry.

But a thigh strain picked up at The Valley on Tuesday night robbed Rovers of his services at the weekend.

And he was sorely missed against a Vale side determined to extend their own impressive unbeaten run.

The Valiants set their stall out accordingly in a bid to make life difficult for Rovers and Brian Horton's game plan worked a treat. And had they enjoyed a bit more luck in front of goal it may even have secured them all three points for it was Vale who carved out the better chances.

But there's a lot more resolve about Rovers these days under Parkes.

And after handing Alan Kelly the goalkeeper's jersey, the Irish international has kept four clean sheets in six matches.

That defensive meanness has enabled Rovers to take 12 points out of 18 since Parkes took charge.

And, on the back of victories over Charlton and Stockport, fans can have few complaints about a haul of seven points in eight days.

On the face of it, draws at places like Crewe and Port Vale feel like two points dropped rather than one point won.

But you only have to look back to the start of the season, when Rovers were losing games like this, to find some solace.

Whoever eventually takes over from Parkes will find a team in far healthier shape.

Christian Dailly and Simon Grayson are starting to look solid at the back.

Jason McAteer has helped stiffen up the midfield.

Ashley Ward and Egil Ostendstad are beginning to forge a promising partnership up front.

And Damien Duff has been on fire down the left.

But there's still room for improvement and the new man will need to do a bit of tinkering before Rovers start firing on all cylinders.

They slipped quickly into gear, however, against Vale. Twice in the opening 15 minutes, Ward nearly put Rovers ahead.

His neat turn and shot after six minutes forced a fine save out of Paul Musselwhite.

And he nearly repeated the trick five minutes later with a carbon copy effort but this time his instant strike drifted inches wide.

In between, Vale nearly manufactured an opener of their own but Kelly clawed away a close-range effort from veteran poacher Martin Foyle after great work down the left from the dangerous Tony Rougier.

Musselwhite came to the rescue again blocking a near post effort from Jason Wilcox.

Then Per Frandsen was only a whisker away with a side-footer from the edge of the box.

But, as the half wore on, it was Vale who grew stronger.

Matthew Carragher fired just wide, Lee Carsley thwarted Richard Eyre with a brilliant block tackle on the edge of the box, and a Foyle effort was deflected around the post.

From the resulting corner, Tommy Widdrington then powered a free header over the top.

The Valiants kept up the pressure after the break as a bullet header from Allen Tankard whistled just over.

And the pace of Rougier provided Dailly and Co with a real headache. But Rovers refused to buckle and McAteer's cross nearly teed up Wilcox but Carragher got back to shield it to safety.

An Ostenstad lay off fell to Frandsen but his shot was blocked.

And the Dane then tested Musselwhite with another effort from the edge of the box after a neat knock down from Blake, who had come on as a replacement for the injured Ostenstad.

The game petered out after that, as both sides became embroiled in midfield scrap.

Vale could have snatched it in the dying seconds, though, when Rougier whipped over a cross from the right but McAteer got back to flick the ball away from the inrushing Tankard.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.