Adam Yates Ready For Crewe Alexandra Derby Clash

Defender Speaks To Press At Vale Park

  • Vale face local rivals Crewe this weekend, kick-off 3pm.
  • Yates says the Valiants remember loss to Railwaymen earlier in season.
  • Defender hoping to turn the tables on Saturday.


Port Vale defender Adam Yates is desperate to claim victory in Saturday’s local derby against Crewe Alexandra, admitting defeat in the reverse fixture 'left a bitter taste'.

Rob Page's side welcome the Railwaymen to Vale Park this weekend, kick-off 3pm, on the back of an impressive win over Peterborough United on Saturday.

The Valiants suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of their local rivals at Gresty Road back in September but Yates believes that disappointment will help drive the team to victory this time around.

Speaking to the press this week, the 31-year-old full-back said: “It isn’t nice to lose to a local side and it does hurt.

"We were poor when we played there earlier in the season and it left a bit of a bitter taste in our mouths.

"We know how we felt after that defeat. We had a lot of experienced players out that day and we didn’t play well at all but we don’t want that to be happening again so we need to go out and give a good account of ourselves.

Yates also believes that Vale are a much more confident team this time around, adding:  “Pagey’s give the lads their confidence back because that’s what they were lacking.

"There were no bad players in the changing room that day, it’s just that the confidence was low.”

Yates was also in no doubt the key role the fans will play in determining the outcome of Saturday’s game and also warned that the players will need to keep their cool in a hostile atmosphere.

“It’s not a game where we want to be down to ten men, we want sensible heads in there," he said.

"Some of their players will not have played in front of a crowd like ours, where it could be a little intimidating for some of them.

"We’ve got to capitalise on that and push them all the way.”