Andy Crosby backs Port Vale to keep improving after bounceback wins
Posted Sunday, August 13, 2023 by PA
Port Vale manager Andy Crosby believes his team learnt a lot from last weekend’s hammering against Barnsley after they bounced back to claim a 1-0 win over Reading.
Ben Garrity’s hugely-deflected shot settled the contest in the 72nd minute, earning Vale a morale-boosting victory after losing 7-0 on the opening day of the League One season.
It comes on the back of a 3-2 win over Fleetwood on Tuesday in the first round of the Carabao Cup, and Crosby was delighted by his team’s response to a tough defeat.
“We’re going to grow, we’re going to get better,” he said.
“It was a difficult 90 minutes last week and we gifted Barnsley opportunities. With a ruthless nature they scored them and they took advantage, but we learnt a lot, we spoke at length in a variety of ways and credit goes to the players.
“They’ve taken things on board, they’ve learnt from it and with two wins in the first week of the season, being through to the next round of the cup, it’s been a good week.
“It’s important that the players enjoy the wins.
“It’s good that they can appreciate the fans and stay behind and clap them. We have to do that whether we’ve won, drawn or we’ve got beat. We have to show our appreciation to the fans for their support, and I’m sure they’ll go home happier this Saturday.”
Andy Carroll had a golden chance to put Reading ahead with a 12th-minute penalty after Nesta Guinness-Walker was fouled in the box by Dan Jones, but goalkeeper Connor Ripley denied him.
The winning goal came 18 minutes from time as Garrity’s shot on the spin took a massive deflection before looping over debutant goalkeeper David Button’s head and in off the post.
The visitors nearly equalised in the dying moments when substitute Lewis Wing’s cross-shot hit the bar, but Vale held on for all three points.
Troubled Reading have now suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats in the league after being relegated from the Championship last season.
Boss Ruben Selles believes his team need to come to terms with playing in a lower division sooner rather than later.
“It is what it is,” he said of the result. “These games will happen and as soon as we accept, everyone of us, that we’re playing in this division and we’re playing against tough opponents (the better things will be).
“We have to be respectful of everybody.
“Of course, I know that the fans are travelling and they’re disappointed, and I am too.
“We want to put on a good performance, but it didn’t happen and this is the message that is clear for me.
“But I will respect every single club in League One and this is the situation we’re in.
“We’re going to need to fight to win football matches and do it together, that’s it.”
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