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Club News

John Askey desperate to improve home form

8 March 2019

Club News

John Askey desperate to improve home form

8 March 2019

As we approach the latter stages of the season, Port Vale manager John Askey says it's "vital" that Vale pick up as many points as possible in the remaining games and is looking to start by doing that at home to Mansfield tomorrow.

Home form so far this season has been a struggle for the Valiants, with the last win at Vale Park coming back in October in a 1-0 win over Bury thanks to a second half strike from Tom Pope.

Since that win the Vale have struggled to find their feet at home, and go into tomorrow's game against high flying Mansfield hoping to earn John Askey his first win in charge as Vale manager and finally get a home win in 2019.

Askey believes that winning at home can be the difference between staying and going down in this league and wants tomorrow to be a positive day for the club by gaining all three points.

"I think for any team you want to perform at home. It's important in front of your own supporters and it hasn't been good enough at home and we're looking to rectify that now.

"You look at the games that we've played here whilst I've been in charge and we've done OK. We probably need to keep the ball better and put teams under more pressure, that then enables the crowd to get behind us.

"We're not overloaded with goals and if you do concede it's always going to be tough... it's just belief, we've got to get that belief in us. Once we do we'll be fine as proved on Saturday. We played really good football and created loads of good chances, it's about converting them now."

Goals have been rare as of late for the Valiants, with just three scored in the league since the turn of the new year. Manny scored a vital last minute screamer away to Lincoln City on New Years Day, Ricky Miller scored a first half winner away to Crawley whilst Whitfield pulled one back for the Vale against Tranmere a few weeks ago.

Askey has admitted he doesn't care whether the ball comes off someones back and it hits the back of the net, as long as the Vale start getting some goals under their belt.

In recent weeks, Vale have looked more likely to score and at Notts County they created plenty of good chances. This has encouraged Askey who feels it's only a matter of time before the goals start coming for his side, but isn't afraid to rotate his squad in order to get them.

"I'm surprised that during the games that when you get the chances that we've got, none have been converted. Some have been sitters really, but all we can do is keep getting the ball in the box.

"Hopefully we start to converting some soon because we could start winning by three or four goals. I've also got to know the players better as the weeks have gone on.

"It's up to other people to stake a case as we had a game on Tuesday against Wigan. It's up to people stake a claim for a place because places are up for grabs if you're not winning. You're always looking to improve the team."


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