Manager disappointed with defeat but feels his side can take more belief from a positive performance against League One high-flyers Ipswich Town.
- Darrell Clarke | “The lads can take more confidence from that, we are not a million miles away”
- Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke on 3-2 defeat to Ipswich Town, David Worrall’s 500th league appearance and how he and his coaches will continue to improve the Vale
- Clarke: “The team have shown consistently that they do respond and they do keep going, but today we were outdone by a team that are clinical and the mistakes we made, they punished.”
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke says his side can take confidence from their highly-competitive League One clash with Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
The Vale came out on the wrong side of an entertaining five-goal clash at Vale Park, though Clarke saw his side once again show their ability to compete against a side likely to challenge for promotion to the Championship.
“We are obviously disappointed we have lost the game,” Clarke said. “What we needed to do when we got it back to 2-2 was make sure we didn’t concede a goal in the next five or ten minutes, because we had the momentum.
“That is what top teams do, though, they punish you on the turnover and they did that.
“We are disappointed in the goals we conceded tonight but certainly have no disappointment in my lads commitment, desire and application – I thought all of that was spot on.
“It is just about improving the group and getting better and better; there are two ways of doing that – one where you spend loads and loads of money or one where you go at a pace that is sustainable and moving forward we will be competing with the bigger teams in the division and that’s the right way of doing it for our football club.
“The lads can take confidence from that, we are not a million miles away, and we have shown in the first 15 games of this season that we belong at this level.
“The team have shown consistently that they do respond and they do keep going, but today we were outdone by a team that are clinical and the mistakes we made, they punished.”
David Worrall made his 500th career league appearance in the defeat to the Tractor Boys and Clarke waxed lyrical about the Vale wide man, now in his sixth season at Vale Park.
“I love the lad and I know the fans love him,” Clarke added. “Look how well he did for the first goal to climb above his man and set up Gavin Massey.
“I have picked him in my teams a lot and he never gives anything but everything for the shirt and that is why he has 500 league games under his belt because he has that attitude and desire to still keep going.”