Striker ends barren run and is now looking for more to follow

Tom Pope got back on the goal trail on Tuesday night with a brace against Preston North End, as Vale were knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

But the Vale striker revealed he would have gladly gone without had he stuck his chances away at Fleetwood three days earlier.

Finding the net again after nine games without a goal felt good, but like his team mates, a win against Fleetwood last weekend would have been even sweeter.

After the Preston game Pope said: I would have swapped these two for the two chances I had on Saturday. I was a bit disappointed not to put one of them away.

“It is always nice to score goals, but it is never a nice feeling when you have just lost.”

Reading the match programme before Tuesday’s match Vale’s top scorer was reminded of a previous barren spell during Vale’s promotion season two years ago.

He finished that campaign with an impressive 33 goals, finishing the season as the country’s leading marksman. 

He said: “I went eleven games without a goal. I would like to score in every game or score 30 odd goals a season, but that can’t happen every year.

“You just go out there and try your best for the team and hope to get a chance and put it away when it comes your way.

“Hopefully I will have some confidence going into Saturday. If the lads keep putting balls in there hopefully I will get on the end of them.”