Port Vale boss Darren Moore says he is “really pleased” to see the improvement in his side since their opening-day defeat by Rotherham.
Vale’s return to League One after last season’s promotion was sobering, as they were defeated 2-1 by the Millers following a terrible first-half effort in which they conceded twice and had Jaheim Headley sent off.
In the aftermath, Vale wing-back Mitch Clark stated that the team was “only going one way” if they did not improve, which, fortunately for Moore, they have.
A goalless draw with Cardiff City followed, before Vale defeated Blackpool 1-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup for their first win of the season.
“It just wasn’t us [vs. Rotherham]. Moore told BBC Radio Stoke: “We made some horrible blunders.
“We certainly addressed that in the second half with our performance and the last couple have seen that happen [again].”
Trying to make the perfect pancake
Moore quipped that a candid conversation with his players at halftime would have helped the turnaround, but co-owner Carol Shanahan’s comparison of their improvement to striving to produce the perfect pancake is rather accurate.
“Call it what you want – me losing my rag at half-time,” Moore exclaimed.
“Carol compared it to your first pancake that goes horribly wrong, followed by your second and third, which are more like the one you desire.
“So I was quite thrilled to see it again in Blackpool. Making the [nine] changes, but the team maintained the consistency of approach that we saw against Cardiff.”
Vale will have the opportunity to record their first league win of the season when they travel to Burton on Saturday, and Moore is certain that their newly set standards will not waver.
“We don’t sit back on our laurels, we know it’s a different game and one that will ask different questions,” he told me.
“You have to be ready for whatever eventualities come at us and I think that’s the bit I’m trying to get into the boys while we’re still trying to find our feet at this level.”
Leave a Reply