VALIANTS LOOK TO MAINTAIN THEIR SUPERB RUN OF RESULTS
PORT Vale will try to match their best winning run for 11 years when they take on Harrogate at the Envirovent Stadium this afternoon. Friday’s 1-0 win at home to Exeter made it four league wins on the spin for the first time since November 2015 when Rob Page’ side managed it. Vale haven’t put five straight wins together since Micky Adams was in charge, in September 2010, but they will travel to Harrogate with confidence after their latest impressive performance saw off an Exeter side who are just one place outside the League Two play-offs.
Vale’s winning run has lifted them to 16th, 12 points clear of the bottom two. Clarke was pleased to see Theo Robinson net the winner against Exeter, the striker’s fifth of the season, but first since October having struggled to get into the side.
But he’s been given a run in the team by Clarke in a strike partnership with Devante Rodney that has been important to Vale’s winning run.
Clarke said: “I am pleased for Theo. All I ever ask from my players is they give me absolutely everything without the ball and try to show those quality moments in games. You want centre forwards to score goals, obviously, but I think hard work gets you there.
“I think working hard gets centre forwards chances and when you put the graft in that Theo has – and ‘De’ (Devante Rodney) has had an excellent game again. When you put that graft in then you create chances for your team mates as well.” The manager says team spirit has been a strength of the side.
He added: “There is a really good togetherness about the group, but you get that by winning football games. “Spirit, for me, starts on the pitch, when you are winning games. Spirit for your teammates if he is not having a good time, spirit for your team if someone makes a mistake. That is where the team spirit starts for me. “The lads get on well. They have since I have come in to be honest. They are a closeknit group. They have been hurting this season, it hasn’t been a great season and we are looking to finish it as best we possibly can.”