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John Askey sets points target for Vale's survival

22 March 2019

Club News

John Askey sets points target for Vale's survival

22 March 2019

Port Vale manager John Askey feels that if the Vale are to retain their League Two status for another season, they must secure at least another three wins.

The Valiants in recent weeks have found a much needed spring in their step and go into the game against Forest Green Rovers at Vale Park tomorrow, hoping to make it five games unbeaten in the league.

The impressive run has been a massive boost for Vale in terms of their league position and points tally. They currently sit in 20th on 41 points, which in Askey's eyes is nine points off where they want to be if they want to survive.

"I've always said we're looking to try and get 50 points. If you get 50 points I think we're definitely going to stay up. It might be less, but in the players heads they've got to be looking at getting another three wins.

"I've said since I came in that home form is vital for us if we're going to stay up. You want to play well in front of the home support.

"The last few games they've been able to get behind us and hopefully that'll be the case again. It's down to the players performing so that the crowd can do that and enjoy it".

One key component for the Valiants this season has been the defence. The Vale currently hold the most clean sheets away from home in the entire league, which could prove massive come the end of the season.

The defence can certainly make a claim for being a huge influence for the recent run of the results, keeping three clean sheets out of the four unbeaten games this month.

Askey has showed faith and remained loyal to his back four in March and has yet to make a change to it. Clark, Legge, Smith and Crookes have all been his favoured back four as of late and Askey says their performances have been vital. With the defence working in sync, he wants to see more goals being scored now.

"The first thing is, if you get a clean sheet you know you've got a point. It's always important you get your clean sheets in and anybody that wants to do well knows that's the starting point.

"The difficult thing is putting the ball in the back of the net and hopefully we can rectify that. We have been making numerous chances and hopefully we can continue to put the ball into the back of the net.

"Swindon was a one off with the conditions so it was hard to say that because there chances few and far between. 


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