Injury concerns could see youth team players called up

Micky Adams was pleased to see his players put into action things they had worked on in training, as they beat Bodmin Town last night in their second of a three-match pre-season tour of the south west.

minute but winger Mark Marshall netted for the Valiants seven minutes later as the Vale secured a 4-1 win.^thChris Birchall, Ben Williamson and Colin Daniel gave Vale a three-goal lead at the interval. The home side pulled a goal back in the 74

Adams said after the game: “We got in some good crosses and had midfielders breaking the lines - it was a was a good work out and a good exercise,

“We worked on things in the morning in training and we tried to implement those things in the game. It is always pleasing when the things you work on in training have helped you.

“They were a good side and I thought their front lads were lively.  The other night Sam Johnson didn’t have a save to make and he has made two or three tonight.

“I was disappointed from that aspect, disappointed at the way their lads were able to get shots away.

“I think when it becomes a bit too easy you get a bit sloppy with your defending. I said to them at half time he had three saves to make and in league games they would have been goals, so we needed  to tighten up on that.

“It was all down to a lack of concentration. When we got the early goal the full backs got forward and we left spaces down the side of the centre halves and you can’t afford to do that in league games, but I am sure we will tighten up on that.”

Chris Lines returned to the side after missing Monday’s game with a sore ankle, but Richard Duffy and Tom Pope both sat out last night’s game with similar injuries, and then Vale lost defender Carl Dickinson during the game.

The Vale boss explained: "Carl Dickinson has dislocated his finger, but we are not sure whether there is a fracture there as well, so we sent him off to hospital.

Richard Duffy and Tom Pope both missed out with ankle injuries so we will assess them in the next twenty-four hours and  see whether they will be fit for Saturday.

“We were running out of bodies and at one stage we had to put Ryan Boot on at right back, just to give people a rest really.

“We will have a look at it on Friday and if we need to bring any youth team members down on Saturday for the game then we will do so.”

 Despite Vale’s injury worries, Micky is happy how things are going at this stage of pre-season and says his players are ready to step things up once they return home after this Saturday’s game against Tiverton Town.

“These games all about fitness, but when we get back and we have fixtures against Bolton, Southport and West Brom it will be a real test for us.

He said: We need to tighten up on a lot of thing and maybe things we have done here today we won’t be able to do get away with.

“But winning is a good habit to get in to and we have scored a few goals, which gives people confidence.”