Port Vale manager Darren Moore admitted that his team were unable to handle the pressure at Brunton Park as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Carlisle United.
In front of an electric crowd of over 12,000, Vale saw their impressive run of six wins in seven games come to an abrupt halt, with their position at the summit of League Two now under threat.
Atmosphere Proves Too Much for Port Vale
Moore’s men started sluggishly, and the home side took full advantage, racing into a lead before Vale had settled. The Port Vale boss conceded that the occasion appeared to overwhelm his players during the critical early stages.
“For us, the game was lost in the first half. I didn’t think we were quite ourselves. We got caught up in the atmosphere here and the magnitude of the game. We never grabbed composure in the first half like we know we can. It became a bit frantic in that time,” said Moore.
Vale struggled to retain possession and looked vulnerable defensively, with mistakes gifting Carlisle their opening two goals. Despite a spirited second-half showing, in which tactical changes gave them more attacking impetus, they were unable to fully recover.
Moore felt that Carlisle’s third goal came from a ball that hung in the air too long, criticising his team for failing to clear it despite having enough players back to deal with the danger. Nevertheless, Vale nearly staged a dramatic comeback after pulling two goals back, only to be denied by a crucial late save from Carlisle goalkeeper Gabe Breeze.
The defeat leaves Port Vale one point clear at the top, with the race for promotion tightening up as the season nears its climax. Moore thanked the 1,510 travelling supporters and expressed disappointment at not rewarding their loyalty with a positive result.
Reflecting further, Moore admitted that Vale had “played the atmosphere rather than the game” but said he saw enough in the second-half performance to be optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back quickly.
The Vale boss will now look to rally his players for the critical upcoming fixtures that will determine whether they can secure automatic promotion to League One.
Site Opinion
Port Vale’s slip-up at Carlisle shows how fine the margins are at this crucial stage of the season. Darren Moore’s honest reflection should serve as a wake-up call for his players. With promotion on the line, mental strength will be just as important as technical quality. Vale must learn from this setback quickly to avoid further costly lapses in their pursuit of League One football.
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