A frustrating performance – Darrell Clarke on Port Vale’s loss to Salford City
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke said he “would have been disappointed with a draw” after the Valiants suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Salford City on Tuesday evening.
The Valiants had plenty of chances to score but came up against a resiliant Salford defence and Vale’s defence conceded to Salford’s only clear chance of the game. It meant three defeats in a row for the Valiants.
We dominated a lot of the game and were on the front foot. We were a little bit sloppy in our decision making and didn’t get a stonewall penalty at the end there. It was one of those nights…
Speaking to the media Clarke said: “I think we are very unfortunate not to get anything out of the game if I am honest, with a little bit of better play in the final third.
“We dominated a lot of the game and were on the front foot. We were a little bit sloppy in our decision making and didn’t get a stonewall penalty at the end there. It was one of those nights.
“I was disappointed that we didn’t defend the second phase (for the goal). We didn’t have to defend a lot all game if I am honest with you but we haven’t got the result and it is a results business and we are not on the end of the right one tonight.
“It was (disappointing to concede) because then you are chasing a game that we should never have been chasing. It was a second phase, we had got out but hadn’t marked as we had got out.
“That is disappointing. That is the biggest disappointment, and maybe some of our final third play where we could take shots, be more clinical… better cross, better finish and movement.
“All those bits and pieces that we needed to be able to create more chances. To be fair to Salford, they did make three or four goalline blocks that were going in the back of the net. So, they have defended well, but we are disappointed not to have at least scored a couple of goals.
Clarke is confident that Vale will turn their form around adding: “We are going through a bit of a stage at the minute where we have just had a long spell without league games and now they coming thick and fast.
“We will get our rhythm. We will ride this little bit of a storm that we are in, not a problem. We will do plenty of work on the training pitch, plenty of work with the mental side of the game and making sure we are switched on and focused and ready for another game.”