Everton's new Scottish star Alex Cleland was banished to the sin bin for five minutes in the first half when he would surely have been show the red card in a league match.

And late in the game, referee Tony Bates asked for Vale's Martin Foyle and Everton's Italian recruit Marco Materazzi to be substituted when they could have been sent off after squaring up following a touchline clash.

It was strange refereeing on a night when Everton once again failed to impress new boss Walter Smith, who has already spent £8M since taking over from Howard Kendall.

Former Glasgow Rangers full-back Cleland, in only his second appearance for Everton, was the first to be "punished" by Stoke official Bates and was fortunate not to be booked for body-checking Gareth Ainsworth after just a minute.

And when the pair clashed again on 17 minutes, Cleland lashing out after being fouled by the flying Vale winger, Bates decided to make Cleland go off to calm down - having first explained his decision to Everton's number two Archie Knox on the touchline.

Smith, who signed Olivier Dacourt for £3.8M on Tuesday and will add £2.5M John Collins to his squad tomorrow, gave his other summer capture – £2.5M Materazzi – his debut while making half a dozen changes from the side that was held to an embarrassing 1-1 draw at Chester on Saturday.

But it was Vale, who have spent less than £200,000 on five new men, who grabbed what was to be the winner after 32 minutes. Jan Jansson's left wing cross was headed home by Stewart Talbot as goalkeeper Thomas Myhre failed to push the ball away as he went down at the near post.