Page now turning a corner for Valiants
INTERIM boss Rob Page admits he is loving life in the Port Vale hot seat after a hard-fought point at Bradford followed victory in his first match in charge.
Chris Lines’ penalty put Vale in front before Mark Yeates levelled in firsthalf stoppage time but Page was pleased to have left with a point.
Despite his disappointment at conceding when they had, the Welshman hailed his side’s work rate and discipline.
“It’s stressful on the touchline but I’m loving it, absolutely loving it,” said Page, who oversaw victory over Barnsley last weekend. “I’d have snapped your hand off for four points in my first two games.
“The goal changed my team talk at halftime. I had something in my head to say but then we conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area.
“I’m disappointed with the way we’ve conceded but I’m not going to grumble too much. I think to pick points up like that in a hard-fought game is always pleasing.
“They had to work really hard for it and I’m pleased with the performance they’ve put in.”
Lines converted his penalty on 12 minutes after referee Sebastien Stockbridge judged Rory McArdle to have blocked Louis Dodds’ venomous strike with an arm.
City thought they should have had a penalty themselves on 19 minutes, when Gary Liddle was shoved by Carl Dick- inson, but Stockbridge deemed it to be outside the box and Billy Knott wasted the free-kick.
Bradford levelled on the stroke of half-time though when Yeates – after Richard Duffy’s rash tackle on Clarke – expertly curled a 20-yard free-kick into the top corner.
Yeates then fired into the side-netting on 48 minutes, before teeing up Billy Clarke – who shot over – six minutes later.
Gary Liddle’s rasping strike from distance was then palmed wide at full stretch by Chris Neal on 58 minutes.
At the other end Chris Birchall headed against the post on 61 minutes and fellow substitute Ben Williamson’s rising strike deflected just over 15 minutes later. But neither side could force a winner as Bradford – who were angered by the penalty decisions – ended a run of three straight home league defeats.
Assistant Steve Parkin said:“I think we all thought the penalty was harsh. I’m not sure how Rory McArdle can get out of the way. It’s obviously a genuine effort and it shouldn’t be a penalty.
“We’re disappointed with the first decision. The second – not giving us a penalty – was perhaps difficult from where he was. I think it would have been nice for him to have some help from his assistant.”