Yeovil 3-2 Vale reaction: Fans praise Vale players for spirited display
Port Vale fans say team spirit could be boosted after the team’s battling performance with nine men on Tuesday night…
Match summary
Referee Gavin Ward was at the centre of controversy after sending two Vale players off in normal time. Despite being reduced to nine men, Vale twice battled back to equalise through great strikes by Marcus Harness and Antony Kay. However, Yeovil were able to snatch a third goal in extra-time to clinch a 3-2 win.
Players and management
“I thought they were excellent, I can’t ask for any more of the players. They did tremendously well but the referee unfortunately has cost them the game. I don’t think all night we got any decisions in our favour. It sounds like I am moaning about the ref but it was a big factor in the game. We played over an hour with nine men, it is full credit that they managed to keep the game alive. They battled and, when you get supporters travelling all the way down here, they want to see the players battle. But unfortunately now we have a situation where we are going into a difficult period with a difficult run of games and we are two players less…”
Vale manager Neil Aspin
“I think there’s a lot of opposition now, that think they can be physical because of what teams have done to us, in being such a young team. That’s what you noticed there. There were two elements to the game today. Firstly they tried to be physical, secondly they got men behind the ball, which was difficult to break down. I watched them against Cambridge on Saturday, and I thought they were excellent. He’s got them disciplined, and it was difficult to break down. You could see that. He’s got an experienced group with some of those players. It was just a magical moment for us to get through to the next round of the FA Cup…”
Yeovil manager Darren Way
Views from the OVF forum
“Two amazing goals and gutsy performance…”
SFBT
“I honestly believe most of our players have had a wake up, tonight, and have learned things about themselves they didn’t know… or had forgotten. That fighting spirit was sadly lacking in a few games, recently, but, if it reminds them they can dig deep and call up extra resources in adversity it could be the best thing to happen to this team for a while…”
LancyTony
“Fair play to the nine men left on the pitch. A heroic effort and I really thought we’d hang on. Of the two events that changed the game I was convinced he was blowing for a dive on the first because the actions looked so fake. Second one looked really harsh, it was right in front of us, Gibbons just blocked the clearance…”
PVFC1973
“We must appeal that Gibbons card. Right in front of us. Crazy decision – the ref couldn’t wait to give it and didn’t give himself any thinking time at all…”
Jacko51
“Could be a huge mind boost though, I know which team will be going home happier tonight. Yeovil will know they struggled against a nine man side for 75 minutes (with our threee big players off for an hour) and this should give us huge belief…”
valefan16
“Well done Vale – you were immense, but should have taken them at Vale Park. Full credit to the nine players and subs for their hard fighting spirit. Previous Vale sides would have laid down and had their bellies rubbed…”
PVFC764
“Well done, Aspo and the lads – this never say die mentality may well be the difference between staying up and going down. Just forget about the result and take this attitude into every league game…”
CambridgeDon
This can only give hope and belief going forward far far more important than progressing into the next round…”
elav trop 1876
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