“We’ve thrown the game away and we only have ourselves to blame” – Andy Crosby on dramatic FA Cup exit
A disappointed Port Vale manager Andy Crosby says it was “very tough to take” their exit from the FA Cup. The Valiants let slip a two goal lead as the game finished 3-3 after extra-time and opponents Stevenage then won the penalty shootout.
We’ve thrown the game away twice. To concede a last-minute equaliser in normal-time and exactly the same in extra-time makes it very tough to take…
Speaking after the match Crosby told the media: “We’ve thrown the game away twice. To concede a last-minute equaliser in normal-time and exactly the same in extra-time makes it very tough to take.”
“We lost control of the game and they can do that to you. We didn’t deal with balls into the box.”
Crosby added that the number of games and mounting injuries played their part saying: “That’s our thirty first game of the season. Gavin (Massey) has to come off at half-time. Both Ollie (Arblaster) and Alfie (Devine) have to go off in the second-half and Conor Grant comes on but can only play a max of thirty minutes. So as soon as the game goes into extra-time we have to take him off and protect him for the long-term.”
Expanding on the injuries Crosby said: “Gavin Massey had to come off at half-time with a calf (injury). Alfie (Devine) felt his hamstring. Ollie (Arblaster) it was an impact on the knee. Conor Grant, because of the period of time out and his injury history, makes him a massive concern.”
The Port Vale manager said the team will need to bounce back commenting: “We have to think long and hard about how that game ended. We’ve thrown the game away and we only have ourselves to blame.”
Vale’s next game is a home fixture against Wigan Athletic in League One on Saturday afternoon.
Watch the full interview