Port Vale’s goalkeeping coach Mark Grew has admitted that Saturday’s game at Crewe Alexandra is a massive game for many reasons.
Firstly, it’s a local derby and with local pride on offer to the successful team the fans will be going to game with the intention of firing their team to the win.
More importantly it’s between two sides that have been struggling for form recently so a win can kick start their season.
Grew said ahead of Saturday’s clash: “What’s in the past, you can’t do much about, but we’ve got to work hard this week.
“We’ve got a big game against Crewe and we have to put things right defensively, so there’s a lot of hard work to be done.
“It’s a massive game because obviously Crewe want to get on the points tally and we want to get away from the bottom five and it’s a local derby as well.
“There’s local pride at stake, but more importantly we have to put things right in our own house.
“You can look at Crewe as a team with no points, but if we keep doing the same things then I don’t care who we’re playing against, we’ll concede goals.
“It’s important we work on that this week, because however we win the game isn’t important as long as we win it.”
Grew believes that it doesn’t matter that Crewe haven’t gained a point yet this season, it is still going to be a tough match, because they will be looking to turn things around.
He explained: “I’m not expecting anything easy on Saturday, Crewe are a wounded animal and they’ll want to put it right. They’ll come out fighting.
“I remember the derby at their place last year, it was a physical battle, a good local derby, and I’m expecting that this week, because Steve will have them fired up for it.
“Steve’s had a long period where he’s been working with them, he’s a good coach and he’ll have them up for it, like they were last year.
“The main objective is getting the three points, we’d love to go there, play really well and win the game, but we’re also prepared to play ugly.
“If we have to win 1-0 so be it, it’s important we get the winnings ways back at this football club.
“I think last year the crowd were fantastic, we went a goal down and then nicked the goal back before half time, after that I could only see one winner.
“Our fans are super wherever we go, but at Crewe it’s a little bit special.”