Aspin delighted with Legge impact

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2018 by PA

Leon Legge may have proved a derby winner for Port Vale, but boss Neil Aspin believes it will be the veteran’s defensive know-how that will be invaluable this season.

The former Cambridge centre-half headed in Luke Hannant’s cross for the decisive 76th-minute finish in a tightly-contested derby encounter at Gresty Road, and also thwarted Crewe veteran Chris Porter with a goal-line clearance before the break.

That typified the 33-year-old ‘s rearguard prowess that Aspin was quick to salute after Vale ended a horrendous run of 16 games on the road without a win.

“Leon didn’t start thee season in the team and was disappointed, but he has been excellent since he came in. He’s headed out balls, organised and been a man which is why I signed him,” said the Port Vale manager.

“His heading prowess is well known, but he does chip in with goals and he was immense today. It will be good for Nathan Smith as he has had 10 different defensive partners which is not good for a young lad, but now he has got someone he can form a partnership with.”

Legge’s intervention ensured Vale didn’t fall behind in a first-half Crewe shaded. When Jordan Bowery’s shot was pushed out by Scott Brown, Porter looked set to finish but Legge’s stretched his legs to save the day.

Vale should have been ahead soon after the restart when livewire Ricky Miller was put in on goal by Manny Oyeleke but shot at Ben Garratt with Tom Pope then volleying the rebound onto the underside of the Crewe bar.

The Valiants, though, grew in dominance at the second period wore on and when Hannant curled over a cross from the right Legge headed home at the far post.

Aspin added: “We frustrated Crewe to very few efforts on goal. I think we ‘ve got a better squad than last season, but we won’t get carried away.”

Crewe had kept clean sheets in their three previous home outings, but have been lacking goals at the other end, failing to register in six of their eight league fixtures this term.

Boss Dave Artell drafted in Porter to play alongside Bowery, but the height of the front two appeared to encourage his players to hit long balls to little effect.

“We never really got a foothold in the game and we never play the way we did in the second half. I think it was the easy way out for the players by whacking it forward and thinking ‘I’ve done my job’,” said Artell. “That’s not how we play and I wanted them to play their way up there.

“We have had clean sheets, but we need to score more. We tried something different as they’ve (Porter and Bowery) have been the best strikers recently. In the first half they combined really well, but in the second we started whacking it at them.”