Sol Campbell encouraged by Macclesfield improvement

Posted Sunday, December 23, 2018 by PA

Sol Campbell feels he has seen a big improvement in his Macclesfield side after the former England defender’s third League Two match in charge ended in a 0-0 home draw with Port Vale.

The Silkmen created the better chances in the first half, with Scott Brown saving Fiacre Kelleher’s powerful header and pulling off a fine double save to thwart Ben Stephens and Tyrone Marsh.

It was a different story in the second half as the Valiants improved, and Campbell was satisfied with his side’s fourth point since he took charge of the side propping up the EFL.

“We had some good chances and it was a physical game,” he said. “We stood up and showed that, as well as we can play, we can mix it too.

“It was nice to see that determination and, when we had time to play, we played. We had some chances so it could have been a different story but it is what it is.

“For us it’s all about development, doing the right things in training, trying to transfer it into the game. We’re not there yet but we’re much better, for sure. We just have to keep on banging the drum for them to keep doing the right things.

“We have to keep it going, in the last third our touch has to be a little bit tighter.

“A goal would have been the icing on the cake but the lads have put a fantastic effort in, the work rate was tremendous.”

Vale were far stronger after the break and Leon Legge as denied by a goalline clearance, Cristian Montano shot narrowly over and Nathan Cameron deflected Scott Quigley’s effort wide.

But boss Neil Aspin was happy to take the point on offer

“From my point of view an away point is always a good point,” he said.

“Of course you want to get three points and if you look at the league table you want to get all three, but I take every game on its merit.

“Macclesfield had a really good win last week and started well today, they were on the front foot and were the better team in the first half, our goalkeeper has kept us in the game.

“We did better in the second half but it was a tough game and we’ll take the point.

“I’ll always say a point away from home is a good point, we just have to start winning games at home.

“It’s average form for us, it’s not bad but it’s not great and as long as the players keep working hard as they did today I’ll be happy and we’ll move on to the next game.”