Lorent Tolaj returns to haunt Port Vale as Plymouth edge basement battle

Lorent Tolaj scored the winner against his former club as Plymouth moved off the bottom of League One with a 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Port Vale.

The Swiss striker settled a low-quality contest moments after half-time, scoring his seventh league goal since signing for Argyle from Vale in August.

Victory ended the Pilgrims’ five-match winless league run and moved them above their opponents in the table to 22nd place.

As for the Valiants, they now find themselves bottom of the standings, having gone seven league games without a win and failed to find the net in six of those.

Vale looked the more likely side to break the deadlock in a goalless first half, with Connor Hall heading just wide from Kyle John’s cross and Devante Cole somehow not making any contact with Jaheim Headley’s low delivery when only a couple of yards out.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead within seconds of the restart as the returning Tolaj poked the ball home from Matthew Sorinola’s centre.

The hosts showed plenty of endeavour in their search for an equaliser, with Ruari Paton forcing a good save out of Conor Hazard just after the hour mark.

But their league goal drought stretched to five matches to turn up the pressure on manager Darren Moore.