Walsall lack punch in Port Vale defeat - Match analysis

But by the end of the day he and strike partner Tom Pope had done just that, joining the Albion legend in the history books by scoring in a Port Vale league win at Walsall and ending 66 years of hurt in the process.

Saturday's 2-0 success was the first for the Valiants in a league fixture away to the Saddlers since Allen, then an 18-year-old prospect, got the winner in a 2-1 victory back in November 1947.

• Walsall 0 Port Vale 2 - match report
• Time for changes as Walsall struggle to score? - Big Debate

Tomlin was the standout man in an excellent performance from the visitors which asked yet more questions of Walsall's firepower. He scored the second midway through the second half after Pope had opened the scoring in the first, but his tenacity and aggression were typical of his team-mates, in a game which left the home side with a serious case of déjà vu.

Superb wins over Shrewsbury and Peterborough in the last two home fixtures may have had onlookers purring, but it is defeats like Saturday's which have been all too familiar at the Banks's this season.

Saturday was further proof much more progress still needs to be made.

Vale, like Preston, Bradford and Coventry before them, followed a gameplan of high tempo pressing to the letter and it worked as the Saddlers could find no path past the wall of visiting shirts.

Meanwhile, in the attacking third, the visitors were able to exploit a home defence suffering from uncharacteristic uncertainty. Pope and Tomlin's goals were the first conceded from open play by the Saddlers in more than a month.

Dean Smith's assertion his side had "controlled" the game was met with raised eyebrows from opposite number Micky Adams, an understandable reaction.

Walsall had plenty of possession – no question – but created precious little with it and Vale rarely looked flustered.

Their 20-year-old keeper, Sam Johnson, was making his first professional league appearance but wasn't called into any serious action until 10 minutes into the second half, when he was forced to push away James Chambers' fierce drive from 35 yards out.

Johnson also saved well from Craig Westcarr, again from distance, and the only clear-cut opportunity came in the final five minutes when the ball fell kindly to lively substitute Ashley Hemmings eight yards out.

The argument over Walsall's cutting edge, or lack of it, has raged for most of the season – but it is now just 20 goals scored in 19 league games. One way or another, that statistic must improve if any sustained assault on the top six is to be made.

Smith's side have already shown this season, on numerous occasions, their ability to completely outplay teams and score goals. But consistency has been lacking and scrappy wins few and far between.

On Saturday, only substitute Hemmings emerged with any credit from the forward line. Milan Lalkovic found life tough against Vale's physical style as he was frequently out-muscled.

Romaine Sawyers faded after a bright first half in which he tried to set up attacks from deep. Westcarr lacked both service and support.

At the back the Saddlers were the shakiest they have been for some time and will certainly feel they could have done more to cut out Pope's opener on 20 minutes, even if Smith had more than a case when he pointed out the striker had handled the ball earlier in the build-up.

Skipper Andy Butler did get a head to Adam Yates' cross, but could only succeed in helping it on to the striker who finished past Richard O'Donnell on the volley, the ball deflecting off the keeper's legs and into the roof of the net.

Sam Mantom fired over and Sawyers saw a shot deflected just wide before the break, but it wasn't until the second half the Saddlers began to exert serious consistent pressure, leading to the stinging effort from Chambers.

But after Tomlin had made it two, there was no way back. The Saddlers defence failed to deal with a long throw and the forward controlled the ball with his first touch before turning and firing into the top corner with his second – a finish of which the late, great Mr Allen would have been proud.

By Matt Maher