It’s the ‘W’ – Port Vale manager on victory over Bradford City
Port Vale FC manager Darrell Clarke said that securing a victory was more important than maintaining their clean sheet record.
The Valiants defeated mid-table Bradford City at the weekend to maintain their unbeaten run and leapfrog their opponents. For a round-up of all the latest stories from the weekend football why not visit https://parimatchnews.com/football/
At Vale Park, the Valiants conceded an early goal to Clayton Donaldson but rallied to record all three points through goals from striker Theo Robinson and captain Tom Conlon.
I am really chuffed with the players again. It was a real hot day out there, the energy the commitment (was there) again…
Speaking to the media after the game, Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke commented: “I am really chuffed with the players again. It was a real hot day out there, the energy the commitment (was there) again, and the pleasing thing is we haven’t gone a goal down in the run. I was waiting for that reaction.
“When everything is going well for you and players are getting deserved pats on the back…. everyone is getting carried away. But then to react when something hits you like that, and to come back and win the game, is the most pleasing aspect for me.
“Successful teams come back in games and I don’t think we as a club have done that very well this season.”
A clean sheet would have seen the Valiants set a new post-war record of six successive games without conceding a goal but Clarke said the victory was more important.
It is the ‘W’ isn’t it? It is always going to be the ‘W’…
He added: “It is the ‘W’ isn’t it? It is always going to be the ‘W’.
“I have been mentioning it in the last four or five games, how are we going to react when that happens? Because it can happen. That is not me being negative towards the boys. It is a fact of the matter. It is football, you need to come from behind in games and we have done that.
“You are not always going to react to win a game after going a goal down, the stats will tell you it is very difficult. But you can show that commitment and mental strength to be able to come back and win the game like we fortunately did.”
Port Vale will no hope to finish the season unbeaten with just two games of the League Two campaign remaining. The Valiants face relegation favourites Grimsby Town next and will surely be eyeing another three points against their struggling opponents. The Vale then round off their season with a home game against Mansfield Town.
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