Port Vale boss Neil Aspin more interested in result rather than performance

Posted Sunday, August 19, 2018 by PA

Port Vale boss Neil Aspin was relieved his side came away with three points after surviving a second-half onslaught from Crawley to win 1-0 at Vale Park.

Luke Hannant’s strike in the 20th minute was enough to seal victory in a game where the visitors owned the majority of the ball.

“It was the score I was looking for. Not the performance,” said Aspin.

“We were second best for all of the second half and from that point you have to say Crawley deserve to get back into the game with the possession they had.

“I thought we started okay for the first 20-25 minutes and I thought we were going to win the game at that stage.

“To be fair to Crawley they pushed us back and we needed some defensive performances to keep them out, so that’s very pleasing.”

One standout performer was debutant Mitchell Clark, the 19-year-old signed on loan from Aston Villa.

Aspin said: “I thought he acquitted himself really well and it’s always difficult when you come from under-23 football but now that he’s had his first game – hopefully he goes from strength to strength. Having him is a big plus for us.”

However, Aspin admits his fifth-placed side have been unpredictable in recent weeks and must improve to survive in Sky Bet League Two.

“I’ve learned that if we play our best, we can get results and if we don’t we’ll get beaten,” he said.

“We need to be at our maximum every game because it’s a tough league. Between the three league games we’ve had – we’ve had one where we’ve played well, one where we didn’t play at all and against Crawley we needed to be better.”

Crawley boss Harry Kewell was less than impressed after his side had plenty of possession but did nothing with it after 16 shots and only one on target.

“We dominated the game with possession and we created our chances but we just didn’t take it,” said Kewell.

“Port Vale got their chance and they took it, defending for their lives and they got the three points.

“I don’t think anyone was a standout performer. They had a game plan and they knew how to play us and to stop us moving the ball and to play it. It’s just one of those days.

“Full credit to Port Vale. They had a job to do and they stuck to it. We dominated the second half but we need to score goals.

“I’m very confident in my team, my team are playing well and Port Vale were just lucky that they threw everything on the line and they got away with it.

“If we play like we did against them, I’m confident we’ll win more games than we’ll lose.”