Interim manager pleased to secure League One status, though he acknowledges disappointment in first-half performance at Charlton Athletic.
- Andy Crosby | “Disappointed with our first-half, but the primary goal has been achieved”
- Port Vale’s interim manager speaks to the media following 3-2 defeat at Charlton Athletic
- Crosby: “It is credit to everyone concerned that we have [secured League One status]; it was our primary goal at the start of the season to make sure that we are playing League One next season.”
The Valiants' 2022/23 League One status was confirmed today despite a 3-2 defeat on the road at The Valley.
Port Vale's interim manager Andy Crosby was quick to praise all of those involved in achieving the primary goal that was set at the start of the season.
"That was the remit – taking over before the Ipswich game – to make sure that we secured League One football. It is credit to everyone concerned that we have done that, it was our primary goal at the start of the season to make sure that we are playing League One next season."
Disappointed with the first half performance, Crosby and the backroom staff sought to change things for the second period to give the Valiants better opportunities with and without the ball.
"In this game, I was really disappointed with the first-half in a number of ways, so we changed things at half-time and I thought second-half we were the better team, much better with and without the ball.
"I have just said to the players in there that for us to develop as a football club you can’t continue to concede a goal-and-a-half a game, you end up in real trouble doing that. Individuals have to learn very quickly that that won’t be acceptable going forward and if they are not capable of doing that, then they won’t stay at the football club too long"
Going into detail, Crosby said:
"I thought the way in which we handled the ball wasn’t good enough, which created too much space when they suddenly got the ball back, our pressing shape didn’t work and we weren’t connected as a team, we weren’t compact and there was too much space for them to then play through us, so we changed that at half-time.
"Whether you change shape or don’t change shape, again the goals we conceded are handed to Charlton. They came in 1-0 up at half-time, being the better team but we have given them a goal and then we did that again in the second-half. You can’t win games on a consistent basis if you concede goals like that.
Talking about the shots to goals ratio, Vale's interim manager said:
"It would be wrong for me to point fingers at defenders and the goalkeeper for the amount of shots we concede from, it is a collective effort when we haven’t got the ball and we are trying to reduce the amount of opportunities for the opposition. Ultimately, though, as a defender and a goalkeeper, you will get judged on the amount of goals you concede, the individual errors you make, and I just told them that."
18-Year-Old James Plant scored his first professional goal just five days after agreeing his first contract and Andy Crosby sang the praises of the young Valiant.
"I think it is remarkable that suddenly you have got 100% trust in a player of his age that he can go and impact the game. He has got incredible attributes, he really has and if we – and he – can nurture them, his mentality isn’t one of an 18-year-old boy, he has got a really good head on his shoulders, he is in a really good environment, surrounded by a really good family, a really good academy and first team staff who want to help him grow. If he continues to take on the information, continues to keep growing, then the sky is the limit for him."