Gaffer realistic after defeat at Molineux
Although disappointed by the final result against Wolves on Saturday, Vale boss Micky Adams said there were positives to take out of the game at Molineux.
He made four changes to the side that were beaten at home by Crewe in their previous fixture, opting for experience in a game that was always going to difficult for the Valiants.
I thought we got everything out of the boys that we wanted. We had decent shape, frustrated Wolves and had the best chance, but then once the first goal went in I was disappointed after that. He said: “I was pleased with the first-half performance,
“It is a big stadium and a big atmosphere. I think Chris Robertson needed another opportunity to show that he is a good defender.
“Richard Duffy came back as he was fit and played in midweek (in the reserves).
“Those were the major changes, particularly after Jack Grimmer and Joe Davis had done so well, but we went for a little bit of experience.
“In the second half we expected to be under a bit of pressure, but asked the boys ‘can we keep the ball a little bit better than we did in the first half?’ having been really pleased with the way we handled the ball.
“We said no silly defensive errors, but unfortunately they got a bit of luck with a deflection and then the other two goals I think we can defend better.”
“Richard Duffy got 60 minutes; I think that’s a positive. I just feel at the minute there’s a little bit of fear factor in us, particularly at the top end of the pitch.
“Defensively I can understand it, when you think of the quality of Sako and Dicko. At this level, they are as good as anything to will see. We needed to cope with them better than we did in the second half. “
It could have been a different story had Tom Pope put away a chance in the first half which you would normally expect Vale’s top scorer to finish.
The ball hit a bobble just as he brought his foot through and then went off his ankle and harmlessly behind the goal for a goal kick.
Adams said: “I think there are key moments in games, when you are presented with a chance like we had in the first half, if you score it then it’s a different game.
“Tom doesn’t need to apologise. It is a chance and he knows it. He has stuck them away in the past and missed them in the past, that’s the life of a centre forward.”