Manager reflects on hard-fought Boxing Day win against Morecambe.

• Darrell Clarke | “An important three points for us”
• Port Vale manager assesses his side’s 1-0 win over Morecambe in League One on Boxing Day
• Clarke: “It was about the win for us today, we had to respond, we won’t get carried away with the performance but the three points were a huge boost and put us in the top ten.”

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke praised his side’s battling qualities as they secured a 1-0 win against Morecambe on Boxing Day.

Gavin Massey’s 25-yard strike was the only goal of the game at Vale Park as the Vale fought hard to secure a third consecutive 1-0 home victory in League One.

“It was [hard-fought],” Clarke explained post-match. “It wasn’t pretty at times and the pitch isn’t made for decent football at the minute, but the boys grinded it out and it was an important three points for us.

“Morecambe kept fighting; Derek Adams’ teams never roll over. It wasn’t a classic, it was tough to get the ball down and play on a very heavy pitch. We don’t use the pitch as an excuse; we have to do better at times with the ball and use the ball better but for me it is about grinding out those three points.

“It was great finish by Gav; I thought he was outstanding. It is about the win for us today, we had to respond, we won’t get carried away with the performance but the three points were a huge boost and put us in the top ten.

“It is a clean sheet; you have to get clean sheets and I always thought that it would be a mistake or a bit of quality that would win the match, in a game with limited chances.

“I am sure our fans will go home happy; not necessarily a great performance to watch but they’ll be happy we picked up the points.”