A victory on Saturday would be best for ten years

Vale skipper Doug Loft is expecting another tough game against Swindon Town on Saturday and he hasn’t forgotten the game at the County Ground earlier this season when the Robins once again smashed five goals past Vale.

Following the defeat against Gilingham last weekend, training has been stepped up this week, but hopefully all the extra preparation will help the side come the weekend.

Loft said: “It has been hard, but we have done a lot of ‘shape’ and things in training and we will go into the game prepared against Swindon on Saturday.

“We are expecting a tough game – Swindon always give us a good game and they battered us earlier on in the season, so hopefully we will play better than that and get some more points at home.

If Vale gat the three points on Saturday it will be the first time in ten years since they have won four home league games on the bounce.

The last time they did it was the final home game of the 2003-2004 season and the first three at Vale Park the following season.

The skipper remarked: “This season we have done well at home. We probably haven’t played too well in cup games, but in the league we use the big pitch to our advantage and we know how to play it here, so that’s a bonus.”

Loft has played I several positions again this season, filling in where he has been needed, but he is more than happy to play in his more natural position , where he sees more of the ball.

He says: “We have had a lot of injuries and I have played games at left back, but I have been playing in the middle or on the left and that’s where I like to play, so I am happy as long as I get the ball and get to do things, I am happy.”