NO team can expect to lose 10 home games and still be promoted.

Kris Taylor’s superb long-range strike overshadowed Bobby Grant’s similarly impressive goal to give play-off contenders Port Vale victory last night and take Accrington Stanley’s tally of home losses into double figures for their League Two campaign.

That, above all else, is the main reason why Stanley are no longer in the promotion race – 11 points behind the top seven with five games left to play.

Stanley boss John Coleman made just one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Darlington on Saturday, with John Miles starting in place of Billy Kee and Grant moving up front after a couple of games on the left wing.

The Reds were without a substitute goalkeeper, with Dean Bouzanis absent with a shoulder injury.

A scrappy start to the game produced few chances, with the Reds struggling to keep possession.

Micky Adams’ Port Vale have lost only four times away from home this season – the least in the division – and looked the more dangerous, with Ian Dunbavin having to scramble to tip over a cross from Craig Davies.

Dunbavin had to be alert again to keep out Doug Loft’s stinging 25-yard effort but he could do nothing to prevent Davies opening the scoring in the 35th minute.

Loft’s pass played Davies into the channel but the striker was able to outmuscle Darran Kempson far too easily and cut inside before lashing the ball impressively into the top corner.

Davies then had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 just before half time, only to chip the ball over Dunbavin and wide of the post when clean through.

And Stanley were level after the interval with a superb 18th goal of the season from Grant.

The 19-year-old, who revealed his intention to sign a new deal at Stanley earlier this week, has produced many fine strikes this season and this was another – collecting a long ball before hammering a volley over the head of stunned Vale keeper Chris Martin from 30 yards.

Stanley could have been ahead minutes later as Martin did well to keep out Andy Procter’s header from a Jimmy Ryan cross.

But Vale were back in front in the 66th minute as left back Taylor unleashed a long-range strike equally as impressive as the one produced by Grant. The ball flashed past Dunbavin.

Ryan had a free kick saved at the other end but another lacklustre performance meant Stanley did not deserve a point.

Sitting 14th in the table with just one point from their last eight games, their season probably cannot end soon enough.