Change things – Askey set to break up central defensive partnership?

Manager John Askey says he will break up Port Vale’s regular central defensive partnership after a second-half horror show at Walsall.

The Valiants conceded four goals in the second-half with Askey labelling the team’s efforts as “schoolboy defending.”

At the moment, the two centre halves, every time it goes near them we look in trouble…

Nathan Smith suffered a rare substitution as he was replaced by Adam Crookes and Askey could also opt to bring in Shaun Brisley.

Speaking after Vale’s demoralising 3-4 defeat, Askey said: “At the moment, the two centre halves, every time it goes near them we look in trouble.

“Two were off corners where the same man scored two. The first goal was just a straightforward ball that the centre-halves should deal with.

“I think it was the third that was the same, he just got in beyond them and struck it well.

“But it is schoolboy defending at its worst.

“The organisation of the team is fine but if people knock long balls and you can’t stay with your men and you can’t close gaps then you have problems. The only thing we can do is change things.”