Manager pleased with performance but acknowledges the Vale could and maybe should have taken all three points at Fleetwood Town on Saturday afternoon.
- Darrell Clarke: “I thought we were as dominant as an away team could be”
- Port Vale manager reflects on his side’s 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town in League One
- Clarke: “It was a high-tempo, heated game and I thought we dominated large periods of the game. It wasn’t to be for the three points today but I still felt it was a good performance.”
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke was pleased with his side’s performance as the Valiants were held to a 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
Clarke’s side led through Matty Taylor’s first goal for the club, though Jack Marriott’s 83rd minute equaliser saw the spoils shared at Highbury Stadium.
The Vale remain a point ahead of their hosts, who are now in their ninth season in the third tier.
“I am pleased with the performance again; I thought the boys were tremendous. We have got to finish our chances because we had a couple of great chances within the game, we are frustrated that we conceded another goal from a set-piece but the effort, commitment and some of the quality at times was very good.
“It was a high-tempo, heated game and I thought we dominated large periods of the game. It wasn’t to be for the three points today but I still felt it was a good performance.
“We have not had to manage high intensity pressure, I thought we were as dominant as an away team could be and on another day we pick up the three points.”
Taylor’s first goal since his loan move from Oxford United was the 172nd goal of the striker’s professional career and Clarke says while the frontman will be pleased to score, he’ll be frustrated it wasn’t more than one.
“Knowing Matty as I do, I know he will be frustrated that he hasn’t got two or three,” Clarke added. “I know what Matty brings, though, his work rate for the team, his experience and he knows where the back of the net is. He’ll be frustrated but pleased to get himself off the mark.”
The point sees the Valiants move to 44 points in League One after 36 games, with ten matches remaining Clarke says he is looking for his side to collect as many points as possible between now and May.
“We keep going, keep working on what we do, analysing and making sure that we do get better,” he continued. “It is maybe two points dropped but the performance was a good one and that is four or five matches now of consistent performances. We have ten games to go and it is about picking up as many matches as possible in those ten games.
“We always knew this division would be very, very tough and in general we have handled it very well. We have had long periods without our front men and now we have our number nines back fit, we look a different proposition, we look more dangerous going forward and we are certainly giving teams plenty to think about.”
Ben Garrity and James Wilson both missed out on the matchday squad having featured in the Vale’s win against MK Dons and Clarke gave an update on the duo post-match.
“Ben is injured, hopefully it is not too serious but I thought the midfield three were excellent today – Petty [Tom Pett], Funso [Ojo] and Tom Conlon In there – we miss Ben Garrity but we have a good squad of players that come in and do the job
“It’s frustrating for Willo [James Wilson] really because he felt a tight groin this morning, we did some work with him before the game and hopefully he will be in contention with a good week’s training next week.”