Neal looking forward to the visit of Oldham Athletic

It is back to league action on Saturday after two Cup matches in Vale’s last three games and goalkeeper Chris Neal is hoping Vale can now kick on.

Whilst it is nice o enjoy a taste of cup success, Neal knows the importance of putting that to one side and concentrating on what is really important throughout the course of the season.

He said: “That’s our bread and butter, that’s what we work for every week. There are forty-six games in the league and at the moment we are doing well.

“We need to kick-on on Saturday and get back to the league and concentrate on that and we have got some nice home games, winnable game and hopefully we can do it.

“It is tight at the top and if we can pick up a few points and creep up into the play-offs. If people said we would be eighth or ninth at this stage of the season you would have taken that.

“We just need to keep doing what we are doing and hopefully it will take care of itself.”

First up in that run of games are Saturday’s visitors Oldham Athletic. They were a little unfortunate not to pick up a point at Walsall in midweek and will come to Vale Park in a determined mood.

Neal says: “They are down the bottom end of the table but it is teams like that you have got to be wary of, they are scrapping at the bottom of the league and we know it is going to be a tough game.

“When we went there they looked a good, organised team and we are expecting a good game.

“Being at home we have got to play our game and impose ourselves on them, so we will be looking to do that on Saturday and hopefully we will get the result we want.

“The fans are massively important to us when we play at home and if they get behind us – I don’t think they realise how much it does help us.

“If we can attract the fans here by the way we are playing and stay just outside the play-offs and hopefully they are creeping in there it is going to benefit us.”