Boss at pains to explain poor performance

Micky Adams was understandably at pains to explain the poor performance against Exeter City last night and hinted there may be changes made for the game against Oxford United at the weekend.

The Vale boss said: “I am disappointed and frustrated. We didn’t get going so I suppose you could say we got what we deserved – nothing.

“We were two-nil down and chasing the game by half time and I had to find an avenue to get us back in the game.

“Looking at the performances of every individual it could have been anybody, so no reflection on the two that I took off, but even the three substitutes I put on, I was looking for a spark from them but I never got one.

“We are disappointed we have lost another game. We have got to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and get back on with it.

“We are not getting into the right areas, particularly the right areas to produce goals. That was as quiet a performance I have ever seen from a Port Vale side this season. We have lost games but we have always tested the goalkeeper – we never did that.

“I thought the crowd stuck with us. I can’t think that the crowd is putting us under pressure, but we have lost the last two homes games so we have to find different avenues and ways to play at home.

“We are as frustrated as as the supporters are. It’s a little bit baffling when you consider the performance we put in at Torquay.

“But I thought Exeter worked harder than us and that doesn’t agree with me too much. I think once you see a team like Exeter and they out-battle you, out-physical you and out-run you, then we have got to start asking questions.

“Whether we thought that all we had to do was to turn up and win the game, you would have to ask the players that, but certainly that’s not my philosophy on it.

“I always think we have to work twice as hard as the opposition and we didn’t. It’s easy to point the finger, but we will have a look at everything before the next game.

“We have always said we have got a decent squad. It might be time for the those who have been on the sidelines to have a run in the side, but we’ll pick whatever we think is the best team to get a result at Oxford.”