Brown’s influence is paying dividends

BEN Purkiss believes Michael Brown can bring some English know-how to Port Vale after the post-Bruno Ribeiro era started with a solid victory.

Former Sheffield United midfielder Brown took over as caretaker following the Boxing Day resignation of Ribeiro, who had been on the job for just seven months.

And co-captain Purkiss, having made his first appearance since October due to injury, is convinced Vale’s foreign legion will come on leaps and bounds under Brown.

“I think what he’s got is experience of the English game, he knows the league and he’s been at this level for a few years now,” said the 32-year-old defender.

“He knows the Championship and Premier League very well, he has great knowledge, he has had a little bit of a say and Ned Kelly has come into the coaching staff to help him out.

“We played at a good intensity and his appointment might help some of the foreign lads to understand the game.

“We showed excellent endeavour, excellent enthusiasm with some really good individual performances.”

A minute’s applause was paid to former captain Matt Carragher before kick-off, who lost his battle with cancer on Friday.

And the Valiants rose to the occasion as Jerome Thomas’ second-half goal put paid to a winless streak that had started on November 12.

Thomas was involved in the best move of the first half too, as he combined with Rigino Cicilia, only for Chesterfield goalkeeper Ryan Fulton to deny the latter at his near post.

The Spireites – who are mired in the relegation zone – began the second half in the ascendancy but could not convert promise to chances.

It was left for Thomas to somewhat fortuitously break the deadlock on the hour, as the forward’s cross-cumshot looped over Fulton.

And after substitute Rai Simons blazed over a golden chance to level, frustrated Chesterfield boss Danny Wilson pulled no punches.

“I’ve said it many times, I’m sick of repeating myself too often to certain players, they have to take a long hard look at themselves by not winning this game,” he said.

“We’ve come here and we knew we had the ability to cause them problems and win the game .

“The way the game panned out we should have done and won it convincingly as well, yet we lose 1-0 by a poxy deflection.”