Darren Moore praised match winner Jayden Stockley after the striker netted a late header as Port Vale rebooted their League Two promotion push with a 1-0 victory at local rivals Crewe.
Stockley headed a far-post finish in the 86th minute to sink the Railwaymen, who provided the greater threat for more than an hour of the game.
Moore’s men moved up a gear in the closing stages and after Rico Richards and Ryan Croasdale spurned chances, Stockley made it count as he netted his ninth goal of the campaign.
“If you want the ball to fall to anyone in the box, it’s Jayden,” said Vale boss Moore. “He was right on the spot to finish that one and then it was a matter of keeping it tight and giving nothing away.
“It was a really tight game, but we managed to get the all-important goal. Both teams were looking for that one opportunity and it fell our way.
“We have seen the qualities that Ben Amos brings to the team. He has a steady calming influence and he deserved his clean sheet with some great saves.
“It was a cagey game right the way through, a typical local derby that I’d really been looking forward to. I thought our away fans were tremendous today and we could hear them in the dressing room before the game – they spurred the boys on.
“Everyone played their part and I thought we were strong and powerful in midfield, while we had a bit of creativity too. It’s an area that Crewe can be dominant in, but we nullified them there.”
Crewe carved out the better chances in a competitive first-half with Vale goalkeeper Amos saving at the feet of Chris Long and keeping out Max Conway’s follow-up.
The restult means the hosts’ poor run continues, with three draws and two defeats in the last five leaving them four points outside the top seven.
Alex boss Lee Bell admitted: “It’s really disappointing for everybody and the players are on their knees. Our fans were magnificent during the game, so it’s a tough one to take.
“I told the players that we’re not going to stop believing. I know it’s disappointing and if some people have stopped believing four or five games ago that’s up to them, but we’ll keep on believing.
“We need something to drop kindly in the box, but I thought Chris Long and Kane Hemmings were excellent today and Jack Lankester is back so we’ve got some real quality up there.
“It was just that one moment that cost us. A goal kick, a throw and then two touches later it’s in the back of the net.
“Port Vale have experienced players and they found a way to win the game. They were a threat from set plays, but we needed to take the opportunities we had in the first half.”
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...
David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...
Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...
Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...
Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...
Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...
Kieran McKenna was not getting too giddy dreaming of a miracle escape from relegation after Ipswich beat Bournemouth 2-1 to pick up their first Premier League win of 2025.Goals from Nathan Broadhead and top-scorer Liam Delap did the damage as Ipswich put a further dent in Bournemouth’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.McKenna, whose side are still nine points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves who t...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender