Moore’s so merry after Loft ends winless run

DARREN Moore wore a big wide grin after finally winning his first match as Port Vale boss – at the ninth attempt.

Ryan Loft struck late to take all the points in an allStaffordshire clash with Burton Albion.

“First things first, I am delighted with the three points” Moore said.

“It has been a long time coming and we have been close, but getting it over the line today, to get those three points, at a time when we really needed to was excellent.”

On matchwinner Loft, Moore went on: “Lofty scoring was brilliant. We are pleased for him. I thought his allround game was huge for the team.

“He gave us a target man up front for us to hit and he drove the team forwards so for him to get the goal in the manner that he did earned us a huge three points.

“There were some huge performances out there. I thought the team were good. In and out of possession we were good and driven on by an away support that was excellent today. We are going to need all of that for the rest of the season.”

In a first half full of endeavour, but lacking in quality, Vale’s James Wilson fired the first effort of the game into the side-netting and Burton keeper Jamal Blackman had to tip

Nathan Smith’s goalbound header from a corner over the bar.

Albion’s best moments came from Mark Helm, the midfielder wide with a curling effort from the left, while Connor Ripley had to come out of his goal smartly to block him at close quarters after an exchange of passes with Joe Hugill.

Burton captain John Brayford poked wide early in the second half, before Vale’s Ben Garrity struck a post from Tom Sang’s corner.

The decisive moment came on a counterattack, Loft initially crossing for Ethan Chislett and when the striker’s shot bounced back off a post,

Loft was there to smash the ball in from close range.

Burton manager Martin Paterson could only watch on as his side suffered a fifth straight home league defeat, a run that has dragged them firmly into the relegation scrap.

“Today leaves us in a real dogfight.” Paterson admitted.

“We are missing so many opportunities. I can’t stress enough to the players the magnitude of what is going on.

“The worrying thing is I thought Vale wanted it more in all facets.

“Running, tackling, second contacts, I thought they shaded us.”