Swindon boss Wellens: Our forwards let us down in Port Vale stalemate

Posted Sunday, March 17, 2019 by PA

Swindon manager Richie Wellens turned on his misfiring forwards after his side slugged out a drab goalless draw at home to Port Vale.

Swindon’s faint play-off hopes suffered a setback as the entire first half passed by without a shot on target for either side.

Wellens said: “We played some good football, but just over-hit the last pass. You look at them in the second half, they’ve got the wind and had one shot.

“Our forward-thinking players let us down today. I thought we defended well and in the second half we got into better situations and didn’t take them. There was a lack of quality in the final third.

“I thought we defended well and in the second half, we got in better situations, but we just didn’t take them or find the final pass. That is frustrating.

“It’s up to individuals to take responsibility, to take more efforts, to show flair, to express themselves.

“I’m not a manager who holds people back. I picked four players today to express themselves and win the game.”

Swindon failed to trouble Scott Brown in the Port Vale goal in the opening 45 minutes and Theo Robinson’s Paolo Di Canio-style long-rage volley wide was the only meaningful attempt.

Vale took until the 56th minute to register their first shot as Luke Joyce’s effort from distance dribbled safely straight at Lawrence Vigouroux.

Kaiyne Woolery at least gave the home fans something to get excited about a minute later following a quick counter-attack, but his strike was drilled narrowly past the near post.

Leon Legge came closest to a winner for Vale, but his powerful goal-bound header from a corner was well saved by goalkeeper Vigouroux.

Manager John Askey blamed the blustery conditions for his side’s poor showing as they extended their unbeaten run to four games.

He said: “The last three performances we played really well.

“Today was difficult because of the conditions, it was a horrible game to watch. Those are the worst conditions to play in.

“There was very little action in the boxes, but we come away happy with a point and it keeps our run going. We have to be happy.”

Askey also said his side is still not safe from dropping out of the Football League and set them a 50-point survival target. They currently sit eight points above the drop zone with 41 points.

He added: “We are not taking it for granted that we are safe.

“(Second-bottom) Macclesfield won today and (bottom side) Notts County drew. We have gone up a place but we just need to keep our heads down and keep working towards 50 points.”