A reward for lots of things – Port Vale manager on excellent start to season

Port Vale manager Andy Crosby says the team’s good League form and progress to the fourth round of the League Cup is “a reward for lots of things.”

I think we have to preach to them what we are trying to do. It might be different from what they have seen before. There may be some frustration at times with what we are trying to do, but we have to play a way that suits our team…

Crosby told the club’s YouTube channel: “It is a reward for lots of things – for Carol and Kevin (Shanahan) for investing the amount of money they do into the football club. It is brilliant for our supporters, who haven’t seen the club in the fourth round for a long time. They keep turning up and I thank them a lot for the support.

“I think we have to preach to them what we are trying to do. It might be different from what they have seen before. There may be some frustration at times with what we are trying to do, but we have to play a way that suits our team.

“That is going to take time, but when we get to utopia and we are playing incredible football with and without the ball, we are making progress.”

However, Crosby says Saturday’s opponents Bolton will prove a tough test adding: “I think we have been competitive. We have rotated team selection – players have started some games and not been picked up for the next one.

“Bolton are a fantastic example of bringing in a manager and creating an identity. They are a lot further down the line than us in terms of what they are trying to do.

“They play really good football, have a really good manager and finished in the play-offs last season. I would imagine they will be looking to be even better than that this season.”