Cheltenham Town 0-0 Port Vale reaction – just lacking a goal
Post-match reaction to Saturday’s goalless draw from Darrell Clarke, Aaron Donnelly and Wade Elliott…
Darrell Clarke
On the performance:
I thought it was a dominant performance, just lacking a goal. I thought we were the better team today, I thought we controlled large parts of the game. It was a great response to a big sucker punch on Tuesday night with a good performance. I look at our performance as a whole and the stuff that my coaching staff and myself have been working hard with, in getting control of the game, and we did that for large parts. Rory Holden hits the crossbar, we had one across the line in the first-half and these things will start going in for us. We have two top strikers coming back in a couple of weeks as well, so we will keep believing and keep working hard to keep putting in good performances.
On Aaron Donnelly’s debut:
I thought Aaron was outstanding. He got used to the pace of the game, controlled large parts of the game and showed great composure with the ball. (He showed) great decision making with and without the ball so I am really pleased with his full debut, he has fitted into the group very well. I thought the back three were superb, with and without the ball, controlled large parts of it and we didn’t really look troubled too much other than one or two scares from set-pieces.
Dan (Jones) has been carrying one for a little bit; we need to manage him and that is why we have brought Aaron in the building because he is great in that position and good competition for places. We hope it won’t be long term for Dan, it’s a niggling problem he’s had for a while so we are trying to settle him down as best we can.
On Jamie Proctor’s return:
It was great. He has only had a few days of training and it is going to take him a bit to get up to match fitness and match sharpness, but he is a great lad, a great lad to have in the changing rooms and hopefully Harrison and Wilson won’t be too long as well and then all of a sudden we look like we have really good competition at the top end of the pitch.
Aaron Donnelly
I was absolutely buzzing to get the shout and start my first league game. Cros (Andy Crosby) and the gaffer told me to play my own game, build my way into the game and that is what I just tried to do. I knew Cros from before through the Northern Ireland setup and that played a key factor for me in joining the club. The way we played at Northern Ireland is the same way Port Vale play here and I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Cros. The lads have been unbelievable; welcoming me in, the staff the same – getting around me, welcoming me in and showing me around the place.
They changed formation and looked to press us high and tried to win high regains against us but I thought we played well throughout the whole game, first-half we dominated possession and second-half was more of a battle but I thought we came out on top. Keeping a clean sheet was probably the most important thing for me; the way we play, we like to attack but the most important thing for me was the clean sheet.
I think our communication was good; me, Smudge and Cass across the back, I thought we were all excellent today. In the air, it was a tough battle against their striker, who was a big lad who wanted to compete in duels, I thought I did well.
Smudge is a great lad; when I came in he got around me and told me I would have a great time here; he was telling me about the previous Forest players that had come on loan to Port Vale and had a really good time, and if I buy into the culture, it will all go well for me.
Wade Elliott
I thought it was a little bit of a nervous performance, a little bit tentative. Especially the first-half… we got better and stronger as it went on. In the last 20 minutes we were on top and could have won it but I did think it was a little bit nervy which I get, I understand. They are a really honest group. They are desperate to do well. They feel the weight of expectation sometimes.
I thought that was reflected at timed in the performance where it we just a little bit tentative but, in fairness, we have said to them, ‘if you can’t win then don’t lose’.
We have fallen just the wrong side of a lot of games, especially recently where it has been one goal here or there. So, in a way that sign of progress. We will take the point and respect the point. The other thing you have to bear in mind is they (Vale) have gone to some tough places recently, Derby and Plymouth, and won, so we will respect the point and move on.