Port Vale ended the year and the decade in the best possible way with an impressive victory over Swindon Town yesterday afternoon, and John Askey emphasises that it has given everybody a lift.
Following three consecutive draws and a winless December in the league prior to yesterday’s victory, the gaffer admits that pressure may have started to creep in a little, yet three points against table-topping Swindon Town sends the Vale into the New Year full of confidence.
The Valiants return to Vale Park on New Years Day where they welcome Macclesfield Town, and the gaffer stresses that his side must follow up with another good performance.
It’s four unbeaten for Askey’s side in the league now and they remain four points off a play-off place, and the Vale boss admits that another three points against the Silkmen could put the club in a terrific position.
“The Cheltenham game we should have won and the Mansfield game we should have won and then the pressure starts to build a little bit, if we had lost today then you start to question what you’re doing. It’s just what we needed, it gives us all a lift and we go into the New Year now confident.
“We’ve got to follow it up and the attitude has got to be the same when you play the likes of Macclesfield as it is when you’re playing the top teams, so hopefully we can do that.
“All the lads know that if we get three points then we’re in a great position, what I’m pleased about is the performances, the last three performances, it’s a bit like the beginning of the season as we said, we needed that win to get us going again and hopefully this is just the start."
Askey was delighted with the performance once again yesterday, and he puts it down to the desire and energy his side showcased in front of an encouraged and boisterous Vale crowd.
Scott Burgess put the Vale in front with a stunning effort in the first-half, before fellow youngster Jake Taylor netted his fifth league goal of the season, also in terrific fashion, and the gaffer had high praise for the two young midfielders.
Crisitan Montano once again made that left-back spot his own yesterday and following a slight error against Mansfield last time out, he returned to his best as he picked up the Man of the Match award for his display, also receiving praise from Askey.
“The attitude, right from the off, the tackles they were putting in showed desire and a lot of energy, what’s pleasing is how well they’ve looked after themselves during the Christmas period which isn’t always easy, they’ve been full of running during all the games and I’m pleased with how they’ve performed.
“He [Cristian Montano] showed great attitude, controlled aggression right from the off, looked as though he really wanted to win today because he was disappointed after the Mansfield game. He came into me and said he’d been struggling to sleep, he played well in that game, it was just that one error.
"Scott [Burgess] is capable of that, he’s a good finisher and he can get goals from midfield, loads of energy and I’m pleased again for him because I think in the Mansfield game he came back to his best and today he had another really good performance, it’s really pleasing when the younger lads perform like that because they’re only going to get better.
“The problem is when he [Jake Taylor] keeps scoring he keeps pushing his price up, that’s the problem, because when he came here, he was worth nothing. We’re trying our best for Jake and hopefully we can get a deal done, but he isn’t helping by scoring."