‘CRAZY’ RED CARD FUELS AUSTIN’S IRE
DEAN AUSTIN called the decision to send off defender Aaron Pierre “crazy” after his Northampton side succumbed to defeat to Port Vale.
Austin said when the Cobblers went down to 10 men it became a difficult task.
“We got a crazy five minutes with the referee and I don’t have a clue why he booked Aaron, and then obviously he puts himself in a position where he gets sent off,” said Austin.
“It’s annoying and I’m angry.”
But Vale boss Neil Aspin felt the correct decision had been made.
“I feel that Ricky Miller didn’t touch him when he went down injured so I have no sympathy for Pierre,” he said.
“He tried to get Ricky Miller sent off so I’m not going to comment on whether he deserved the cards, but I certainly don’t like to see centre-halves go down as easily as he did.”
Aspin praised midfielder Manny Oyeleke after his second-half effort sealed the Valiants’ first league win in four games. The 25-year-old former nonleague player with Woking and Canvey Island curled his effort into the top righthand corner after 70 minutes, after Ben Whitfield had given the hosts a first-half lead.
“Manny’s not played a lot of football at this level as he’s been injured so I’ve given a bit of praise to him because he was fantastic and he topped it off with his goal,” Aspin said.
“When you come from nonleague, you want to make sure in your own head that you can compete at this level and he has certainly stepped up.”
After three losses and a draw, Aspin, a former Leeds defender, was delighted to also keep a clean sheet.
“A clean sheet builds confidence,” he said. “But we need to be more fluid when it comes to scoring goals as a team.”
“The midfield got us going and we have plenty of players that can contribute goals.”
Austin added: “We’re in a tough moment and the only way we’ll get out of it is by scrapping. In this division it’s the one thing you have to do, and if we don’t we’ll have a problem.”
Vale got on the front foot early as Oyeleke had a low shot saved by Northampton’s Dave Cornell.
The Cobblers replied with their attack on the right wing as Sam Hoskins was released through on goal to set up Andy Williams, who could only find the side-netting. But in the 24th minute, Ben Whitfield opened the scoring for the hosts with a spectacular solo run before unleashing his strike into the bottom left corner. Oyeleke confirmed the result with a curled effort from inside the box that sailed into the top right-hand corner.
PORT VALE: Brown 6, Rawlinson 6, Smith 7, Legge 6, Clark 7, Whitfield 6 (Worrall 82),Oyeleke 9, Conlon 6 (Joyce 67, 6), Hannant 6, Pope 7, Miller 6 Subs not used: Hornby, Kanu, Vassell, Hardcastle, Quigley
NORTHAMPTON: Cornell 6, Facey 5, Taylor 6, Pierre 4, Buchanan 6, Hoskins 6, Foley 6 (O’Toole 82, 5), Crooks 6, Bridge 6 (Turnbull 61, 6), Williams 6 (Waters 57, 6), Van Veen 6 Subs not used: Odofin, Bowditch, Whaler, Ward