Micky Adams 'delighted'
Although Vale were not exactly at their very best, they managed to see off the challenge of visitors Oldham Athletic and manager Micky Adams was understandably happy after the game.
He said: “It was always going to be a tough game after the exertions of the FA Cup and the emotional roller coaster that we went on the other night it was always going to be a difficult game.
“But I tried with the squad I had available to mix it up a little bit and introduce some fresh legs, so I am delighted to have got the three points.
“I was disappointed in the first half – I thought we gave too many free kicks and corners away, but defended reasonably well.
“In the second half we tightened up in that department a lot more, we took the game a little bit more to Oldham, got the goal, got the penalty and really the game should have been over then.
“But once they were throwing bodies on late on it was always going to be difficult to keep our composure and defend it, but we saw it out and I am thrilled to get the three points.”
Loan signing Jack Grimmer excelled on his home debut and capped it off with the only goal of the game to earn special praise from the manager.#
He said: “I was pleased with his performance, full stop. He got his goal as well and I thought he showed a lot of football intelligence there.
“Chris Shuker put a corner in a minute before then and it was cleared at the near post and he stole into that area where the first corner had gone and got on the end of it, so real football intelligence, but I thought his overall performance was excellent.
“Florent Cuvalier has a knee injury. He had an easy volley really for a player of his standard and he didn’t quite catch it right and as he landed in the soft turf – it was a difficult surface today for both sides – he landed awkwardly and he has done his knee.
“To what extent I really can’t tell you at this moment in time, we will have to assess it over the next twenty-four hours , but hopefully, touch wood, it is not too serious.”
Carl Dickinson picked up a booking in the game and has now amassed ten yellow cards this season, earning himself a two-match suspension, which the manager was not too pleased about.
He said: I am massively disappointed with that and Carl is disappointed as well. I think it was a stupid booking. Alright he didn’t get the corner, but keep your mouth shut and get on the halfway line.
“He knows he was on ten bookings, but it is hard to criticise a man after what he has been through in the last few weeks. I will forgive him – I might take a few quid off him, but I’ll forgive him.”