Players will concentrate on working hard in training

Whilst admitting Saturday’s home game against Northampton Town is a big game, Mark Grew says they are not yet concentrating on the game itself.

The emphasis in training will be all about hard work to make sure the players are well prepared and fully fit ahead of the game.

Vale’s Assistant Manager said: “I have been saying it is like a Cup Final, but it is like a European Cup Final now. It’s exciting – this time last year it was all doom and gloom and now everybody can’t wait for the next game to come.

“Judging by the phone calls and text messages I got after the game on Saturday, everybody is going to come to the game and there is going to be a carnival atmosphere.

“But what we have got to do, we’ve got to get the lads switched on. We’ve got to forget about Saturday for now, we’ve got to concentrate and get some hard work done and prepare in the right manner.”

Two games to be played tonight will be of particular interest to the Vale. Everybody will be checking Sky Sports, glancing at their phones etc this evening to fine out the scores at the Bradford versus Rotherham and the Wycombe v Northampton scores.

Grew says: “We don’t want everybody to get carried away. We will be looking at the results tonight and see if they go well for us, but it is still in our own hands.

“It is going to be a tough game. Northampton are going to be stinging after being beaten at home by York and they are going to come here with a determined attitude.

“They are a big, strong physical side, well organised and they are going to put us under a lot of physical pressure in the box and we have got to stand up and be counted on Saturday.”