Port Vale manager on the win over Oxford Utd – credit to Alfie, credit to everyone
Port Vale manager Andy Crosby paid credit to Alfie Devine after the win over Oxford saying the loanee kept his composure in the closing moments to win the game and also to his entire squad.
The Valiants took the lead through Alex Iacovitti only for Oxford to equalise. However, with Oxford reduced to nine men, Vale were given a last-minute penalty and Devine kept his composure to score the winning goal.
To take that penalty in that pressurised situation says a lot about him and epitomises everything about our group. Credit to Alfie, credit to everyone who came on…
Speaking to the media, Crosby said: “Credit to the players. We weren’t great first-half with the ball allowing them to dominate. We stuck together, we defend the balls into our box, we kept tracking people, we kept heading it, we kept trying to win duels, we kept giving the ball back to them so we started that process all over again and we said at half-time if we want to get out of that position we’ve got to spend more time with the ball.
“They’re (Oxford) a good team with a really good way of playing, Liam is a very good coach and they’ll be successful this season.”
Crosby says the game turned on Mark Harris’ sending-off adding: “I didn’t see the incident with Nathan and Mark. I asked the referee at the end of the game and he said it was for a stamp. That allowed us to get control of the game. We could play and we could build and spend more time with the ball.”
Vale then took the lead with Crosby commenting: “We got ourselves in front with a set play which we spoke about pre-game about maybe could we identify one of their potential weaknesses. They were a little bit smaller. Great delivery, the big man looks like he’s a massive threat from set plays. He’s been unfortunate in the previous few games but really good contact and then we’re disappointed that we allow them back into the game.
“The game’s looking like you’ve maybe lost two points we find a great pass in the final third and Ben takes a really good touch and is about to face their goal and he’s brought down and every one of our penalty takers has come off the pitch.
“So, we nominate three penalty takers and I’m looking at the pitch thinking right OK make a decision quick and fair play to Alfie To take that penalty in that pressurised situation says a lot about him and epitomises everything about our group. Credit to Alfie, credit to everyone who came on.”
Watch the full Andy Crosby interview