Port Vale manager praises Sheff Utd loanee – dictated the whole game
Port Vale manager Andy Crosby had praise for opponents Crewe, the Vale supporters and loan midfielder Oliver Arblaster after the side’s second round Football League Cup win on Tuesday evening.
The Valiants recovered from a slow start to finish the game goalless and progressed thanks to a penalty shootout.
We thought the game needed a change and changed formation. Ollie got a grip of the game and the whole game was being dictated by Ollie then. It was a lot better second-half…
After the game, Crosby told the media: “Crewe were the better team in the first-half. They kept possession of the ball, we couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm. They made it really difficult for us. So massive credit to them. I think what they try and do as a football club and develop a style and young players is a credit to them and a credit to Lee and his staff.
“But also I must give credit to our players as well because there was a massive turnaround in the second-half. It goes to show that when you prepare properly you get rewards. We’ve been taking penalties since last week in preparation… when you do that there’s less chance involved.”
The manager also felt the Vale supporters played their part adding: “Thank you to the fans because I thought the atmosphere in the second-half was great.”
Crosby felt the game changed in the second-half as Vale changed formation and added influential loanee Oliver Arblaster adding: “We thought the game needed a change and changed formation. Ollie (Arblaster) got a grip of the game and the whole game was being dictated by Ollie then. It was a lot better second-half.”
Vale started with academy graduates Rhys Walters and Jack Shorrock making their full debuts and Crosby commented: “Rhys Walters I thought was brilliant. He didn’t look out of place. It’s credit to the academy that players are now being produced for the football club. It’s really important that they see an opportunity to play in the first-team and get valuable experience.”
The manager was delighted to see the side win the shootout and reach the third round saying: “I didn’t watch any of the penalties but Connor’s got a reputation for saving penalties and with our home fans behind him he created a situation of pressure for them. Collectively we all got over the line.
“There’s such a big reward for getting through to the third round. To go and play potentially some of the elite clubs in the Premier League. ”
It means Vale are now six games unbeaten and Crosby concluded: “You can see a real connection between a new group of players and fans and staff. We thank them (the fans) for their support. I hope they can see the basics that we do every game which is to run around and be competitive and wear the badge with some real pride. ”