Manager delighted as his side end League One leaders Plymouth Argyle’s 100% home league record with 2-0 victory in Devon on Friday night.
- Darrell Clarke | “A great team performance”
- Port Vale manager on his side’s 2-0 League One win at Plymouth Argyle on Friday night
- Clarke: “The boys responded well and put their bodies on the line. We have had to defend, rode our lock one or two times, but we earned the win over the course of the 97 minutes.”
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke was delighted with the physical and technical qualities his side showed to secure a 2-0 win against League One leaders Plymouth Argyle on Friday night.
James Wilson’s second half double ended Argyle’s 100% home record in League One, while Clarke’s side became only the second side this season to prevent the home side scoring in 26 matches in all competitions.
Speaking post-match with iFollow the Vale, Clarke said:
“The boys were outstanding; to come here against a side that has won nine consecutive league games here and defend the way we defended and show quality when we needed to made for a great team performance.
“It was a good spectacle, two teams having a right good go, that is what I saw out there and we came out winners.
“[At half-time] we concentrated on the things that we could have done better. I was a bit animated because I felt we still had more in the locker if we looked after the transition better.
“The boys responded well and put their bodies on the line. We have had to defend, rode our lock one or two times, but we earned the win over the course of the 97 minutes.
“It is about your team and how they respond and how they work; my lads give everything in every game and that is what they do. To come here, backed by 400 fans – which is amazing – thank you to them and we certainly made the journey back up better.
“We will really enjoy tonight; it is three points - a tough three points - the lads deserved the plaudits they got from that and we go again next week.”
On striker Wilson, Clarke continued:
“He is a quality player; I love the kid, he has got that unbelievable quality to win games and produce match-winning moments. He is enjoying his football – that is the main thing for James Wilson – I just want him to enjoy his football, no pressure and he will produce the goods.”
The Vale climbed to 9th in League One with the victory and while keen not to get carried away with a third consecutive victory in all competitions, Clarke said:
“We are pleased, we’d be silly not to be, we had a really short summer break and to be on 29 points from 20 games, we are delighted and we want to keep pushing forward.
“We’ll enjoy that, recharge over the weekend and get back to work next week.”