Gaffer pleased with nine points return from four games

Micky Adams responded to the stick the team got following the midweek home defeat to Fleetwood after the 4-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle saying some supporters were a little harsh.

He said:  “There was a slight over-reaction from some people after the defeat to Fleetwood. We have played four games over the Christmas and New Year period and we have won three out of the four.

“I think there are a lot of teams that would like that. It was disappointing that we didn’t win against Fleetwood, but we have done everything right today.

“The disappointing thing is that I have never said we are Barcelona or Real Madrid, we are Port Vale and we have lost five games all season.

“Ask the Plymouth fans whether they would be disappointed with our form. I think it is an over-reaction and I am disappointed, but the only way we can ever answer critics is to go out there and perform.

“We changed the team around – I said after the game against Fleetwood I thought it was a mistake to go with the same eleven again.

“We changed it round and freshened it up and that isn’t any slight on the lads that had played previously, but I thought we needed some fresh legs and I thought we did everything right today.

“We win as a team and we lose as a team, and the lads who came in, to a man, everybody stuck to the game plan today and worked really hard.

“It was a difficult game for us. I am sure it was an easy conversation for their two caretaker managers who will have told the players there could be a new manager sitting in the stands – go and show him what you are all about.

“It was always going to be a difficult game but once we got that first goal and then ‘the idiot’ got sent off, there was a problem for them.

“I defy anyone to not pass judgement on the lad who was sent off. He could have got sent off in the first seconds of the game because the first elbow was worse than the second one.

“He’s obviously not the brightest boy. It’s not for me to comment on other people’s players, but he certainly let Plymouth down there.”