However, injuries to joint top-scorers Jamie Proctor and James Wilson took their toll the following month as Vale dropped to fifth and exited the EFL Trophy at the second round.

The recruitment team were extremely busy, however, as eight players were signed and nine departed (including three loans cancelled early) to combat an ever-worsening injury crisis.

Manager Darrell Clarke had to completely rebuild the playing squad after he released all 15 out-of-contract players following the club's mid-table finish at the end of the 2020–21 season: Shaun Brisley, Scott Brown, Ryan Campbell-Gordon, Adam Crookes, Mark Cullen, David Fitzpatrick, Kurtis Guthrie, Luke Joyce, Harry McKirdy, Zak Mills, Cristian Montaño, Tom Pope, Tom Scott, Daniel Trickett-Smith and Dino Visser.

[4] Clarke's first signing as manager was Brad Walker, a defensive ball playing central midfielder who had been released from League One club Shrewsbury Town.

[6] Biddulph-born James Wilson was then signed upon his release from Salford City, a 25-year-old striker who had come through Manchester United as a highly rated teenager.

[10] Taking Brown's place in goal was 30-year-old Brazilian Lucas Covolan, who had been on the losing side of the National League play-off final despite scoring a stoppage-time equaliser for Torquay United.

[13] Two more players were announced on 28 June: long-time Stevenage central midfielder Tom Pett and six-year Mansfield Town veteran full-back Mal Benning.

[22] Vale achieved their first victory of the season with a 2–0 win a league leaders Forest Green Rovers, Proctor scoring both goals within the opening nine minutes.

[25] With Leon Legge out injured, Clarke signed free agent defender Danny Amos on a short-term deal to provide defensive cover.

[26][27] Proctor scored another brace at home to Rochdale, though defensive errors cost Vale a 3–2 defeat; captain Tom Conlon, returning from injury, said that "we started really well and then they have equalised and it has knocked the stuffing out of us".

[28] They picked up their second away win of the season at Swindon Town, with Garrity scoring both the side's goals in a 2–1 victory; after the game Clarke thanked the away support but urged critics to "not make scapegoats of any of our players".

[29] The first home win of the season came against Harrogate Town on 18 September, with David Worrall and James Wilson providing the goals that moved the Vale into the play-offs.

[35] The situation was reversed away at Sutton United as the Vale lost 4–3 despite leading 3–2 with four minutes of regular time remaining; Clarke was philosophical after the match, saying "you have to take your medicine.

[44] Clarke's former club Walsall then eased to a 1–0 win at Vale Park, much to his chagrin as he stated that he was "embarrassed... [and] I won't accept that sort of performance – ever".

[45] Despite mounting injuries – including long-term absences for joint top-scorers Proctor and Wilson – they returned to winning ways with a 2–0 home victory over a poor Hartlepool United side.

[48] This would prove the last match of the calendar year as three games were postponed over the Christmas holidays due to injury and illness – mainly thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in England.

[55] The club then signed 28-year-old defender Connor Hall from Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee, whilst Leon Legge was allowed to move in the opposite direction.

[58] The run of defeats were ended with a dour goalless draw at Leyton Orient on 22 January, during which Clarke named only five substitutes due to injury and illnesses to first-team players.

[59] The recruitment team sprang into action by bringing in two loanees: winger Joel Cooper from Oxford United and 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) goalkeeper Tomáš Holý from Ipswich Town.

[64] The club made an eighth and final signing of the window by bringing in defender Sammy Robinson from Manchester City on a permanent transfer.

[76] A third-successive win came at Bradford City, with opposition manager Mark Hughes noting that "they have two strikers [Proctor and Wilson] who were good enough to retain possession and get people around them".

[80] Port Vale came from behind to win 2–1 at Barrow and begin April in the automatic promotion places; after the match, Crosby admitted: "I don't think we were at the races in the first half.

[81] A 1–0 win at Salford City, with Charsley scoring his first goal for the club, gave them a three-point gap between the automatic promotion places and the play-offs; opposition manager Gary Bowyer was full of praise for the "Valiants", hailing them as the best side his team had faced throughout the season.

[83] A Connor Hall goal on 67 minutes gave Vale a 1–0 win at Hartlepool, and after the match Clarke joined the team in celebrating in front of the away support.

[2] Vale won 1–0 at Exeter the following day with a James Wilson goal to book themselves a place in the play-offs and deny the hosts the league title.

[93] He also issued an apology as he had been sent off for an altercation with Dion Conroy in extra-time, and went on to say that: "We've got one more game to go against Mansfield, which is fitting because it's where my eldest daughter came from.... it'll be an emotional day but I'm looking forward to the final.".