Manager reflects on the Vale’s defeat at Peterborough United.

• Darrell Clarke | “We were competitive but we will learn and build from this”, as five-match unbeaten run comes to an end.
• Manager felt his side started well, were competitive throughout but were ultimately punished by Peterborough United and League One’s top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris
• Clarke: “We gave them a soft goal and that is what you don’t want to do against a team with Peterborough’s calibre of players. Unfortunately, we did that but we responded, we kept going and it wasn’t for a lack of effort and endeavour, I just thought Peterborough were better than us on the day.”

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke said his side will learn and continue to build after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Peterborough United ended the Vale's five-match unbeaten run.

After a positive start, the Vale fell behind to a Jonson Clarke-Harris effort, before the Posh frontman doubled his tally before half-time.

Joe Ward’s late third sealed the result for the hosts and Clarke said his side were punished for conceding a soft goal against their promotion-chasing hosts.

“It was a tough afternoon for us but we started the game really well, on the front foot and got in their faces,” Clarke explained. “We could have perhaps created one or two better opportunities for ourselves if we had have looked after the final ball.

“Then we gave them a soft goal and that is what you don’t want to do against a team with Peterborough’s calibre of players. We did that, but we responded, we kept going and it wasn’t for a lack of effort and endeavour, I just thought Peterborough were better than us on the day.

“Peterborough have just come down from the Championship; they have been on a bit of a run of form that has been a bit false in my opinion, having watched the games.

“The big thing for me was that even though we weren’t at our best, we were still competitive, we will keep learning from this and building from it.

“We have to make sure the group stays confident in what we are doing and what we are trying to achieve, we’ll make sure we do that because that is how you learn and keep developing.

“Peterborough have been at the top of League One and in the Championship for numerous years, it is our first year back with a new squad and we are enjoying the journey albeit this was a disappointing afternoon.”