Gaffer makes sure his players are on their toes for tonight
Micky Adams has warned his players not let their standards drop ahead of tonight’s encounter with Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. The Vale boss knows they must be on their toes if they are to get something from the game.
He said: “It’s an important game, one that the supporters look forward to. We are going to take a good following with us over to Burton. They will make a lot of noise and it should make for a cracking atmosphere.
“It is down to the boys to keep their standards, both individually and as a team. I felt on Saturday that they weren’t really at it and they needed a little reminder at half time of what it is all about.
“We have to go to Burton collectively thinking about what we did on Saturday and understanding that if we don’t start right, then we could come unstuck.
“A better team than Wycombe on Saturday might have put us to the sword, particularly in the first half, but we got our just rewards in the end with what I though was a great second half performance.
“When you consider that people say it is easy against ten men, sometimes it as harder. I saw two Premier League games on Sunday where two teams were reduced to ten men and they have held on for a point, so that’s what can happen.
“But we did all the right things in the second half. We got the ball wide, we made the pitch as big as we possibly could make it, passed it early and got some good goals, so that is a lesson for us.
“We strutted around like peacocks on Saturday and we have got to realise that we are there to be shot at and teams will fancy the opportunity to try and put one over on us.
“But when we are in the mood we are a difficult side to play against. We have got to ensure we are in the right frame of mind for the game tonight.
“It’s a local derby and they have got some good players. They are in the play-off picture at the moment and I know it is early doors, but that will obviously give them confidence.
“They will be hurting because they went to Gillingham and got a real thumping, by all accounts, and looking at Gary Rowett’s team selection and the way he went about making his substitutions on Saturday, he had one eye on this game, particularly when the game looked as though it was lost.
“We expect them to come out hurting and wanting to try and put it right and we have got to stand up and be counted.”