Adams lowers his sights to play-off place
Vale’s disappointing home defeat against Southend has made manager Micky Adams change his priorities in the space of just 24 hours.
On Saturday, the Sentinel were reporting a bullish Adams telling Friday’s press conference that “All I’m concentrating on is trying to overtake Gillingham. I’m not worried about what’s happening below us” but that focus has changed following defeat to Paul Sturrock’s side.
But after the Southend match, Adams appeared to be less certain of an automatic promotion spot telling the media: “Promotion seems a million miles away at the moment because we are having a bad run at the business end of the season. The first target is to make sure we get enough points to get into the play-offs and then go from there.
“It was very disappointing again and I’m fed up of saying the same things. We went two goals down and never recovered.
“We keep giving our opponents a lift at the moment. I have no complaints about the penalty and the second goal was also avoidable. We should have put the ball into the stand instead of trying to play.
“We had a go in the second-half. We had to go more direct and fight for second balls because we were getting no joy down the wings. It worked to an extent.
“After getting a goal we had chances and could have snatched a point, but it would have been snatched.”
“All I’m concentrating on is trying to overtake Gillingham. I’m not worried about what’s happening below us.”
– Micky Adams, 8th March
“The first target is to make sure we get enough points to get into the play-offs and then go from there.”
– Micky Adams, 9th March