Tom Pope hopes that Port Vale can continue their solid run going into the next few games following an impressive 3-0 victory at Morecambe on Tuesday night.

Popey has now scored five goals in his last three games for The Valiants, but believes that his accomplishment is a credit to the team around him.

Talking to the local media on Tuesday, the 31-year old said:

“More importantly, it’s six goals in three days. That’s the main thing.

“We have said for a couple of weeks that it’s been coming, we’ve been having a bad 15-20 minutes in games where we have been conceding goals. But, we’ve been creating chances over the last four-five weeks.

“Now, we are on a roll and we hope to continue that.”

Speaking about his new partnership with Ben Whitfield up top, Popey believes that the on-loan winger compliments himself well.

“Ben’s non-stop”, said Pope.

“His energy levels are through the roof and as a target man, when you see balls coming up to you and you see him running beyond you it makes my life so much easier.

“If I flick it on he’s there! At the beginning of the season, we probably had the reigns on the midfield a little bit too deep and had nobody beyond me. It’s difficult trying to win headers when you know that nobody is behind you.

“Him and Marcus (Harness) are rotating well as one comes in front and the other goes behind, it’s working well.”

Speaking about the new gaffer and his new shape to the squad, Tom believes that his new tactics have also benefited him as Vale settle into the new system.

He said: “He’s changed a few things but I think that the shape we have gone into with Ben and Marcus – it gives them a licence to get beyond me.

“He’s told them how hard they need to work to get back into shape which is something he’s gone into massive detail with. Everybody’s around me and lots more players running off me as I have two or three options now whereas before I felt like I didn’t have many.”