John Askey rues missed chances as Port Vale slip up against Morecambe
Posted Sunday, February 17, 2019 by PA
John Askey rued Port Vale’s missed chances after seeing his goal-shy side lose 1-0 at home to Morecambe.
Super-substitute Aaron Collins marked his debut for the club by scoring the only goal of the game just eight minutes after coming off the bench.
Askey’s Vale are now only a point clear of Jim Bentley’s struggling Shrimpers after slipping to defeat and sit four points above the League Two relegation zone.
Vale have scored just once in their last six league outings and saw Tom Pope miss a first-half penalty.
Askey said: “We’re just not taking our chances and if you don’t do that then you won’t win any games.
“Their keeper has had one of those games today. When things aren’t going for you, these things test you.
“We got into double figures in terms of chances created, but it means nothing if you don’t score.
“We are creating chances and we’ve just got to start putting them away.
“Where we’re creating chances, hopefully they’ll start hitting the back of the net. But if you’re creating those chances then they’ll start going in.
“We just couldn’t get hold of the ball for 10 minutes and then they scored and a few of our heads dropped a little bit.
“It’s frustrating because we played how we wanted to but – at the end of the day – it’s about getting the result and we haven’t done that.
“This will see what people are made off and I’ll pick players I think will give it their all each game.”
Mark Halsted pulled off a string of world-class saves to keep Vale at bay.
Steven Old conceded the penalty as he tripped Mark Harris in the box after he was expertly found by Luke Joyce.
Pope, vying for his 100th goal for the club, was superbly denied by Halsted high to his left.
Halsted frustrated Pope once again before tipping James Gibbons’ goal-bound effort wide.
Collins tapped home after being expertly found by Richard Bennett with 15 minutes remaining.
Speaking after only his side’s second win in 14 league games, Morecambe boss Jim Bentley said: “It was a massive win for us.
“There is no doubt we have played better and lost games this season and the fact our goalkeeper was outstanding said a lot about the game.
“But we stuck with it and hung on for the win with a goal of real quality with a great cross and fantastic finish.
“We managed to stick in and pick up all three points so I’m delighted.
“Hopefully this can be a step in the right direction for us and we can go on a run to stay up.
“It wasn’t a real smash and grab because we did have some decent chances but the win was everything to be honest.
“There is no doubt we can play better than we did today but it’s all about the points and we got them today.”
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