Clean sheet a bonus as Vale take the three points
Caretaker Manager Rob Page was understandably well pleased with the performance and the result at Prenton Park on Saturday, when Chris Lines scored the only goal of the game to net the Valiants all three points against Tranmere Rovers.
He said: “When the players cross that white line you can’t influence the game. Standing on the side-lines you kick every ball and head every header, so it has been a nice, but stressful day.
“I was here when they played Premiership opposition on Wednesday and you know what you are going to get whenever you come to Tranmere, and certainly against Ronnie Moore’s team you are going to be in for a battle and they didn’t disappoint us.
“We started ever so well, we had fifteen shots in the first half and they had two, so compliments to the lads, they started ever so well.
“They weathered it and it was one of them, the longer the game went on I was getting a bit concerned if they got a set-piece they could win it.
“Thankfully we got a great goal with Chris Lines’ free kick so the plan sort of worked and I am really proud of the boys, I thought they were magnificent – every single one of them put a shift in.
“The gaffer recognised the potential Chris had and we knew in signing him he would be an attribute to the team.
“The gaffer is not afraid to leave somebody out and if they are not doing the job he will pull them out of the team for a couple of games and get somebody else to do the job for him.
“Linesy has reacted in a positive way, he got back in last week and did brilliant and he has deservedly got him goal today.”
Page had to decide whether to sit back on the lead or to keep having a go at the opposition, but he says he had help on the touchline which was invaluable.
He continued: “I have got Mark Grew alongside me, who has been there, done it and worn the tee shirt and he has got a wealth of experience I could lean on.
the game a bit more when they only had ten men and I said to the boys in the changing room, sometimes it is harder playing against ten men. “It was difficult because they came back into
“They came into it in the second half, understandably, every team is going to have spells when they are on top and I thought we could have used the ball a bit better.
“I brought Jennison Myrie-Williams on to exploit them with his pace on the outside, Hughsey came on for the last ten minutes.
“Ben Williamson was different class and put a proper shift in for us, so there are a lot of positives. We have won the game, kept a clean sheet and I thought we played some good stuff as well.”