Port Vale manager Darren Moore paid tribute to Jayden Stockley, Antwoine Hackford and the support of the Vale fans as he reflected on the side’s draw with Accrington while he also conceded that the side need to learn from their first-half display.
The Valiants were trailing 2-0 at the break after a disappointing display. Vale then changed formation and brought on several players and it paid off as the team snatched a draw with two late goals from Stockley and Hackford.
Here are Moore’s thoughts on the game…
On the performance:
“The first-half performance, it did happen and we have to learn from it. The second-half, we changed the shape, we changed the personnel, it meant that the pendulum started to go to Port Vale. We cut off the channels where Accrington were operating from. With Ben Heneghan coming in and Ryan (Croasdale) in the midfield it nullified that (threat). We started to gain momentum back into the game and it was just working out the front end of the pitch, changing personnel and giving the Accrington backline something to think about…”
On the goals:
“I have to say with Jayden Stockley not many would have gone in where he went in and headed that in. because he’s putting his head in where boots are flying and he’s put us back into the game. Credit to Antwoine for sniffing that (late equaliser) out. When you look at the slow-mo his body shape is ready to react to anything…”
On learning and adapting formations:
“We’ll take the positives from the game and we’ll certainly learn more the game in terms of how the first-half went. I’m still learning about using the group. We’ve come to a difficult place. It’s learning about how the group can handle it. There’s a lot of scrappiness. It’s about us dealing with that and playing to our strengths. I felt we did neither in the first-half and we allowed them free reign to get balls into our box an they’ve scored from two set-plays.
“The disappointment was in front of Vale fans was that’s not the committed performance we want to see from the group. It’s not individuals, it’s the group. When we win games we win as a team, when we lose we lose as a team. This is where the pre-season training comes in. where we’ve been working with back three, back four, two upfront, three upfront so we can change things and change shape where the group are happy with it and that definitely paid dividends today…”
On the half-time changes:
“It’s nothing about Benny (Benicio) and Chissy (Ethan Chislett), they are two outstanding match winners but I just thought today wasn’t for them. (we made changes and) it paid off. I think we’ve learnt a lot today…”
On the Vale fans:
“They kept behind the team so thank you so much. They never stopped all game. They pushed us on all second-half. Credit to the Vale fans. Thank you so much…”
A promising comeback, but same old holes in the back 4 .
It might be time to bring in Nathan Smith alongside Hall. But Ripley is so indecisive and he puts the defence under pressure and blames someone else. We are so slow from the start of a game and some teams are going to give us.a right going over.