Port Vale manager Andy Crosby says matchwinner Ben Garrity may still have to wait for greater game time after the 1-0 win over Northampton.
Garrity came off the bench to score in the 84th minute – his third goal of the season – and move Vale up to second in League One.
It came shortly after Sam Hoskins spurned a sitter to put the Cobblers in the driving seat after a backs-to-the-wall performance.
Vale are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions since an opening 7-0 hammering at Barnsley.
“Our performance was exceptional,” said Crosby.
“It is difficult to break a team down when they put everyone behind the ball.
“They changed formation four times to try and stop us. But we kept probing and trying to move them around.
“The guys from the side of the pitch came on to impact the game. That’s what they are asked to do. There is a lot of frustration from some that they are not in the team.
“We have people on the side who can change a game and want to play. I get that. It is my decision.
“I won’t always get it right but they come on and do the job. We have a competitive group who deliver every single day.
“Our performances are a reflection of that. We just kept trying to find a way.
“It was a focus for recruitment in the summer to make ourselves more robust, more reliable, fitter and to run at high speed more often.
“When we train, we train at full pelt and that’s what you see out there on a Saturday.”
Northampton are still trying to find their feet in the third tier after last season’s promotion.
Boss Jon Brady said: “We know how tough this level is. Sometimes you are going to come away and not dominate the ball.
“They suffocated us on our shape and it was hard to stop their momentum. But we need to be better all round.
“It was a hell of a strike by Garrity. But we should be tighter and not give him an opportunity to shoot.
“You have got to be better defensively at this level. And we probably had the best chance of the game before that.
“Usually Sam puts that away for us. If it goes by him it goes through to Mitch (Pinnock) and he taps it in.”
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