After Vale’s fantastic 6-2 win over Hartlepool United in the Capital One Cup, Manager Micky Adams was extremely happy with the performance by the team all over the park.
Micky said: “It’s a cup game, it doesn’t matter whether you win 1-0 or 6-2, but I’m pleased with the application of the boys.
“I think the one thing we got right tonight was our attitude to the game and I am pleased with the efforts of everybody during the game.”
Ben Williamson scored his first competitive league hat trick in his career, and Micky couldn’t have been happier for the striker.
He explained: “I’m delighted for him. It’s always pleasing to see centre-forwards score goals, because if they don’t score goals they think they aren’t contributing to the team.
“We all know with Williamson’s performances there are other aspects to his game that help the team.
“He is the one who goes over the top and stretches defences. He’s got three good goals, and that will do him the world of good.”
Adams was happy with the creativity the team showed against Hartlepool, which they only showed in patches on Saturday against Walsall.
He said: “One of the things that disappointed me on Saturday was that my wide players ran up and down the pitch in straight lines.
“I think if you’re ever going to mess teams about, you have to get your wide players, especially when being doubled up against, to come inside and cause problems for defenders.
“We had a good session on Monday and I think Chris Birchall and Mark Marshall were excellent in giving the full-backs problems, because they didn’t know whether to go tight or stay in their slots. If they came out of their slots we managed to get Williamson and Tom Pope on the ball.
“To add to that, I think Lines and O’Connor were terrific as well, particularly in that first half period, there was real creativity there. What we’ve got to do now is take this momentum into Saturday’s game.”