IT’S A NIGHT TO BE A VALIANTS HERO
Boss Clarke wants Vale players to show their true colours as they look to book place at Wembley VALE V SWINDON BIG-MATCH PREVIEW: P45 TO 47
PORT Vale manager Darrell Clarke is urging his side to show what they are capable of as they try to overturn Swindon’s 2-1 lead in tonight’s League Two play-off semi-final second leg at Vale Park (7.45pm).
Swindon were firm favourites after Harry Mckirdy’s goals put them 2-0 up at the County Ground, but James Wilson’s strike seven minutes from time on Sunday has left the outcome in the balance with Clarke believing his side can still go up a gear.
He said: “I think the effort, commitment and desire has been absolutely first class all season but I will always expect better with the ball, with the movement, with the angles we make. Players have to take responsibility with the ball, but I think we have come off that a little bit over the last few weeks. Hopefully we can put it all together.
He added: “My players have been outstanding all season and they know the patterns we are trying to work on, that we need to be better on. But some of our basics of ball retention the other day was nowhere near the standard I or my players expect. That was the negative from the game. But the big positive is we are a home game away from Wembley, winning a home game. “So, we are really looking forward to that and I am sure the fans are.” Vale will have their biggest crowd of the season after ticket sales exceeded the 10,800 attendance for last month’s league game against Bristol Rovers. Clarke believes the decision to give Swindon’s 2,200 supporters the Bycars end and switch Vale fans into the 4,000 capacity Hamil end is a smart move. He added: “It is a change and I think the volume from that end will create a better atmosphere, I really do. I am really thankful the fans have accepted that switch because I know there are times when people get a little bit twitchy when they don’t get the seat they usually sit in. I get that because of family things. “So, I am really thankful the fans have done that. I am sure the noise behind the goal and in the rest of the stadium will be really loud. I am looking forward to seeing what sort of atmosphere we can create with fans being in that end.”
The manager is giving nothing away about team selection so is keeping
Swindon guessing about what role Jamie Proctor, pictured inset, will be able to play.
The 13-goal striker has had an injection on a hip injury and was able to come on for the last half an hour of Sunday’s first leg.
Clarke added: “Jamie Proctor is doing that unselfishly. He is doing it for the club to try to get himself available and as fit as he possibly can to make that difference. We are having to look after him, but we have had to look after him for the last four or five weeks now.
“We will see how that pans out but I am certainly very thankful that we have players that want to put their bodies on the line for the club. That is the sort of spirit I want at the club.”