Getting on top of them – midfielder explains Port Vale’s transformation at Stevenage

Substitute Ben Garrity says that after an “awful” first-half, Vale’s better second-half performance at Stevenage was down to their control of midfield.

In the second-half there was only going to be one winner…

Vale put on an awful display during the first 45 minutes but were much improved after the break, helped by the energetic Garrity’s appearance as a sub.

He told the media: “He (Darrell Clarke) could have made a lot of changes after the first 45. I thought we were too deep, weren’t getting on first or second balls and, when we did get the ball we were poor on it, sloppy. We have been a bit erratic in some games but we have had a good few days of training and that first-half just wasn’t good enough, it was awful to be honest.

“It (Devante Rodney’s goal) was against the run of play, it was harsh on them, but that’s how football is sometimes. They bounced back and scored a set-piece and should have been three or four one up in the first-half so we did well to come in at 1-1 at half-time considering the circumstances and how bad we were in the first-half.”

Explaining the second-half transformation he added: “In the second-half there was only going to be one winner.

“Their two deep midfielders were bossing the game a bit so he (Darrell Clarke) had me and Petty getting on top of them, getting on first and seconds. It was fresh legs, they had played 45 and I came on a bit fresh.

“We just need something to fall in the box, nothing seems to be falling for us.

“So, hopefully it will come to us. But the first half just wasn’t good enough, we’ll go back and see what’s what.”