Top mark and red card for former Port Vale players on opening day

Port Vale made a winning start to the new League One campaign, but it was mixed fortunes for the players who left Vale Park this summer.

The Vale have kept together the majority of the squad that won promotion through the play-offs in May but there have been several departures.

Perhaps the most high profile of these was James Gibbons who rejected a new deal to instead sign for League One rivals Bristol Rovers. The 24-year-old right back was in Joey Barton’s starting line up for the opening game of the season and played all 90 minutes of their 2-1 defeat at home to fellow promoted side Forest Green Rovers.

However, Gibbons impressed according to the Bristol Live player ratings, earning an 8/10 – the joint highest mark along with keeper James Belshaw and substitute Harvey Saunders.

Rovers reporter Sam Frost said of Gibbons: “Made the odd dart forward in the first half but his best contribution came when Belshaw was beaten by Jamille Matt's strike, which cracked the post and span across the goalmouth. The right-back reacted brilliantly to steal it off the toes of the waiting FGR man who was poised to tap into an empty net.

“He made another important intervention in the second half, blocking McAllister's shot after Rovers were left exposed.”

Also with Gibbons in the Vale starting XI that beat Mansfield in the play-off final at Wembley was Kian Harratt, the on-loan Huddersfield striker who has been loaned out to League Two Bradford for this season.

The 20 year old made his league debut in Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Doncaster – and certainly had an eventful time.

He came off the bench on 68 minutes and then was sent off eight minutes into stoppage time after a disagreement with Rovers keeper Jonathan Mitchell, part of