Boss looking for side to improve away performances
Port Vale manager, Rob Page is looking for a positive reaction when Vale travel to the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion on Saturday.
The boss is under no illusions that the trip to Burton will be very difficult with the Brewers having a brilliant start to the season, under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Speaking to members of the press earlier today, Page said:
“We know we are in for an extremely tough game, they don’t half work hard for each other, they are third in the table for a reason, they are consistent with their levels of performance. Alright they have had an indifferent run the last few game but we underestimate that.”
“We want to go and address our own issues at the minute, our level of performances away from home and that’s what we will be focusing on.”
With Vale picking up five points away from Vale Park this season, Page added that he has been looking at getting back to basics and utilising game management during away games.
“It could be mentality, are we trying to play the same expansive game away from home, we can do it on our own pitch - a big pitch - with the players that we have got but Colchester on a Tuesday night, you need players that are going to roll their sleeves up and have a go and that is something we have got to look at and change the way we play.
“We say the first ten minutes, just turn them around, at times we invite pressure onto ourselves by still wanting to play.
“I want the boys to still play, but in the right areas and times and manage the game.
“There is enough experience in the team to do that so it’s getting back to basics, addressing that and we will get there.”
The Vale boss admitted that he was uncertain on the amount of time that winger Enoch Andoh will be out for, after his collision with Colchester goalkeeper Jamie Jones in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at the Weston Homes Community Stadium but confirmed that the winger will be missing for Saturday's trip.
The Welshman is, however, more optimistic on the possibility of Byron Moore and Chris Birchall returning to the Vale squad for the trip to the Pirelli Stadium.
“He(Enoch) is going to get some more tests done, we should know probably by Monday the total extent.
“We don’t want to guess results of scans and things like that so we will wait and see, let the experts give their opinions on it.
“Byron’s had a good day today we will leave it right up to the last minute to see if he is fit enough to play, fingers crossed we will have him back in contention.
“He(Birchall) is going to be another that we leave it late on and check then.”
If the duo are missing from Saturday’s trip, the gaffer is sure that the players he has at his disposal are good enough to fill the voids left.
“We’ve got a big enough squad, to have two right-wingers go down is highly unusual but we’ve got to get on with it.
“We’ve got other players who can do a job there so we’ve got to get on with it.
“That’s the benefit of having the squad that we have.”