Jon Brady delights in end to Port Vale profligacy as they put four past Rochdale
Vale had scored just six in their last 11 league games.
Port Vale boss Jon Brady was delighted his side finally found their shooting boots in their 4-2 win at home to Rochdale.
Vale had only found the net six times in their previous 11 League Two games but, after Onel Hernandez put them ahead 90 seconds in, George Byers’ penalty and a third from Jordan Gabriel put them 3-0 up inside 22 minutes.
Keyrol Figueroa scored Vale’s fourth late on, either side of the visitors’ goals, and Brady focused on a fine day for them.
“First off we were very clinical in what we did,” he said. “We created loads of chances and the way we played, especially in that first half, was really pleasing.
“To concede those two is disappointing but I want to focus on the positives. We’ve scored four goals at home, three from open play. Some of the delivery, some of our play was really positive today.
“Onel stood out for me, he was excellent, his movement was great for the first goal and the way he finished it was brilliant. Then to get the penalty really made a difference after breaking through their back line and Gabby following up well after a great strike from Demo (Kyle Dempsey). At the end it’s great work from George Hall and Figgy knows where the back of the net is.
“We’ve got to keep looking forward, we’ve been in tough situations, we said last week (defeat at York) had to be just a bump in the road and we’ve bounced back this week. I’m really pleased with the group, with everyone.”
After his side shipped five against Accrington last week, Dale boss Ian Watson had watched in horror as they conceded three early goals.
Although Ian Henderson and Charlie Tasker netted late on, the manager focused on the perils of their slow starts.
“Similar to last week, we just can’t start games of football like we started here,” he said.
“The goals we gave away are so soft, we’ve just allowed people to run through us.
“We’d spoken during the week about how athletic they were and how good they were in their moments. We had a plan to stop them from doing it. And then they just run through us and again we’re out of the game after 10 or 15 minutes.
“We had a lot of meetings where the boys spoke about how much they wanted to react and ensure that we were ready to put right the wrongs of last week today. But then we don’t get contact, we don’t mark properly for the first goal, it’s just such a simple goal to concede.
“It’s pure and simple, I’m saying the same things – we just can’t start games of football like that. If you have a spell in the game where you’re not at it, you get punished and at the minute that spell is coming from the very start of the game.”