Manager heaps praise on his players as they record back-to-back away League One victories.

• Darrell Clarke | “It is always about the squad and today was testament to that”
• Port Vale manager reflects on his side’s 1-0 win at Cambridge United, the performance of Gavin Massey and provides update on Jack Stevens, James Wilson, Ellis Harrison and Dennis Politic
• Clarke: “It was a really good battling performance; it is a very tough place to play. Cambridge United did excellently last year and they are an established team from last season, so to win it 1-0 we are delighted.”

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke spoke about the importance of his squad following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Cambridge United, as the Vale secured back-to-back League One away victories.

Top goal-scorer Ellis Harrison, fellow forward James Wilson and Dennis Politic all missed the game at the Abbey Stadium through injury, while goalkeeper Jack Stevens had to be replaced in the first-half after suffering what manager Clarke described as a “bad dead leg”, confirming the on loan stopper would be assessed following the trip back to Burslem.

The Vale overcame that adversity to secure three points, with Gavin Massey and Mipo Odubeko playing in the forward positions in the absence of the aforementioned attacking trio.

Reflecting post-match with iFollow the Vale, Clarke said:

“[It was] a really good battling performance; it is a very tough place to play. Cambridge United did excellently last year and they are an established team from last season, so to win it 1-0 we are delighted.

“We want to get after every team; we want to defend right, we want to play with the ball right and create opportunities. We certainly did that – especially first half – and we defended very well as a team to limit them, because I don’t think they had a shot on target. That is pleasing – lads were putting their bodies on the line and defending really well.

“We don’t build an eleven here, we build a squad, we keep harping on about that and you see that with the front two today – I thought they were outstanding. Stoney [Aidan Stone] comes on and keeps a clean sheet – it is all about the squad, it always will be and it was testament to that today.

“We are delighted that the boys who apply themselves day in and day out on the training ground are rewarded with a good performance.

“Gavin has played up front before for Wigan and is versatile; we don’t want be short in that area – we have 10s in Dan Butterworth, Rory Holden and Dennis Politic, who has a slight niggle, but I felt it was a game where we could stretch their back line and I felt Mipo and Gavin were suited to the game really. They were unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.”