Neil Aspin hails Manny Oyeleke after Port Vale win over Northampton

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

Port Vale boss Neil Aspin praised midfielder Manny Oyeleke after his second-half strike gave the Valiants their first league win in four games with a 2-0 victory over Northampton.

The 25-year-old former non-league player with Woking and Canvey Island curled his effort into the top right-hand corner on 70 minutes after Ben Whitfield gave the hosts a first-half lead.

“Manny’s not played a lot of football at this level, he’s been injured so I’ve given a bit of praise to Manny today because I thought he was fantastic and he topped it off with his goal,” Aspin said.

“I think when you come from non-league, you want to make sure in your own head that you can compete at this level and he certainly stepped up today.”

After three losses and a draw, Aspin was delighted to also keep a clean sheet.

“I love to get a clean sheet, I’m a defender myself and a clean sheet builds confidence. But we need to be more fluid when it comes to scoring goals as a team.

“The midfield got us going and we have plenty of players that can contribute goals so we are a threat up front going forward with our two strikers as well. If you can do that you’ve always got a good chance for three points.”

There was some controversy at Vale Park in the second half as Aaron Pierre was sent off for two challenges on Vale’s Ricky Miller in the space of five minutes leading up to the hour mark.

Cobblers boss Dean Austin called the decision ‘crazy.’

“We got a crazy five minutes with the referee and I don’t have a clue why he booked Aaron, and then obviously he puts himself in a position where he gets sent off.

“It’s annoying and I’m angry. I don’t want to come and make excuses about referee decisions. But once we go down to 10 it’s a difficult task.”

“I’m disappointed for the players because I see how hard we work in the work. We’re in a tough moment and the only way we’ll get out of it is by scrapping.

“We’ve got to show some balls now. In this division it’s the one thing you have to do, and if we don’t we’ll have a problem – although I don’t think it was a lack of fight this afternoon.”

Aspin however feels the correct decision was made.

“I feel that Ricky Miller didn’t touch him when he went down injured so I have no sympathy for Aaron Pierre.”

“He tried to get Ricky Miller sent off so I’m not going to comment on whether he deserved the cards but I certainly don’t like to see centre-halves go down as easily as he did.”