Boss determined to put defeat behind him
Though disappointed at Vale’s cup exit against Walsall last night, Micky Adams is determined to put the defeat behind him and look forward instead to the game at Colchester on Saturday.
He says: “I think the easy thing is to start blaming refereeing decisions when you have just lost a cup tie because that would sound a little bit sour.
“Walsall are a good side, we knew that, and in the first two games of this season we have faced two good teams and Walsall didn’t disappoint us in that.
“But I thought we had done enough, there was nothing wrong with the way we went about our business.
“I was disappointed to go in at half time one goal down because I thought we had created enough chances and had them on the back foot for long periods, but we are out of the cup and we will lick out wounds and start again.”
There were questions to be answered about both of Walsall’s goals for different reasons, bu the Vale boss was philosophical and was keen not to blame refereeing decisions.
He said: “My initial reaction was that their first goal was offside - we didn’t get too many decisions go out way but we had a response in the second half.
“We got forward and once we scored our goal it looked like we would go on and win it, but they showed what a good side they are, they are very dangerous.
“It will be nice to score a goal and actually take the lead, instead of coming from behind, but I picked the same side again, but whether that is my best side, I’m not sure whether it is or it isn’t, I need to give them a little run to see what they can do.
“The disappointing thing with their second goal was that we follow the ball and not a runner and he is in and he scores and that is what can happen at this level.
“I don’t often criticise players but I have got a right to there because it is easy to follow the ball, that’s the lazy thing to do – stick with your runner, that’s the hard thing to do, so we are disappointed with that second goal.”
Moments before the match winning goal was scored, Vale had what appeared to be valid claims for a penalty kick turned down, and the visitor went straight up the other end and scored. What were Micky Adams thought on that?
“I thought it was a penalty, but I have already spoken about not sounding like a sour and bitter man because we’ve lost a game of football.
“”We are out of the cup, no because of the referee, but because we have not had the rub of the green. I thought it was a penalty, but the important thing is, the referee, who is in charge of the game, didn’t.
“There are aspects of the game that we need to tighten up on. I was pleased with the work that we did on the training ground on Monday in terms of defending throw-ins, we did that a lot better.
“At least I have got a squad that wants to listen and wants to learn and as long as we have got that, we’ve got a chance of winning games.”