All the focus is now on Crawley Town

Doug Loft had no excuses for the team’s defeat on Saturday, saying that his former club were the better side on the day and deserved their success.

The Championship outfit saw to it that Vale’s FA Cup run came to an end, but the Vale skipper says the players must now be ready to go again on Tuesday night at home to Crawley Town.

He said: “The conditions weren’t the best but they played well, passed the ball well and it was hard to get near them.

I think the cross for the second goal, which went in, was a bit unfortunate and then we were chasing the game. We had got the players with the ability to get back into it but it wasn’t to be. 

“The pitch wasn’t the best, it was slippery and boggy, but we both had to play on it so that is no excuse whatsoever.

“”They won three-one and they were the better team and they deserved it, but we have got to pick ourselves up and go again on Tuesday.

“I thought we played some good stuff at times, we passed the ball and created chances but we didn’t have the finishing touch, which they did, and it showed.”