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Port Vale manager Darren Moore vows not to quit after a 5-0 defeat at Huddersfield

Port Vale manager Darren Moore vows not to quit after suffering a 5-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town on Friday afternoon.

The Terriers continue to put pressure on League One’s top six sides, thanks to goals from two goals from Leo Castledine, Ryan Ledson, Bojan Radulovic and Alfie May.

Huddersfield sit 7th with 34 points from 22 games played, a point behind 6th place stockport, but they have a game in hand, and two points behind 5th place Stevenage, who hvae two games in hand. The Valiants are 24th with 15 points from 21 games played, 10 points from safety.

Interviewer: “Gaffer, defeat here in Huddersfield, your thought on the game?”

Darren: “Obviously a disappointing result, Dan, but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb after 10 minutes, conceding two goals within 10 minutes. So there’s always going to be an uphill battle after that one, but there were two soft goals to give away really in the first 10 minutes, and it meant it a mountain to climb really.”

Interviewer: “This is your heaviest defeat as Vale manager. How do you feel after that, and is it embarrassment, is it shame? What are you feeling right now, having seen that performance today?”

Darren: “I think I was disappointed. I think that’s the thing. I’m disappointed in terms of the manner of the goals that we gave away.

“Listen, Huddersfield, at this level, we know they’re a strong team at this level, and that’s what we know, that they’ll be there or thereabouts when looking to jump up to the other leagues.

“So, listen, let’s not make any mistakes today. We played against a very, very good team, and one of the bigger teams at this level, in terms of where they’ve been at.

“So we made no mistake in terms of that, but the thing is what I’m disappointed was in the manner of the goals. I thought the goals were not avoidable.

“I think we gave ourselves a mountain to climb after 10 minutes, conceding the two early goals, and then once you concede the early goals after that, we went a bit roping, a bit raggy in terms of leaving spaces, and not thinking properly as a group.

“So the latter part of the game, I had to shut it down and make sure that we had to stay a lot more compact in that, which we had to do at the end.”

Interviewer: “You’re talking about mountains to climb, whether it’s this game. We’re now halfway through the season. We’re bottom of the league. Teams around us are picking up points. How do we climb that mountain now to secure the safety in League One?”

Darren: “Well, for us, we’ve still got 25 games. So we’re not at the halfway point yet, Dan, but we’ve still got 25 games. There’s still a lot of games to play.

“What we are just looking at now is looking at the next game, because ultimately, Dan, it’s the next game. You can’t look too far ahead. It’s pointless looking too far ahead. What you have to look at is where and how we’re going to get the next win, and that’s what we’ve got to look for and focus on that.

“I think if you start looking too far ahead, things become enormous where you’ve got to look at the next game, because there’s enough enormity in that game in terms of addressing matters, and that’s what we have to look to do.”

Interviewer: “In that case then, what are you, the staff, the players, what are you doing to make sure the next game is the game that brings us that three points?”

Darren: “The main thing now is the group’s hurting in there. That’s the main thing. It’s getting together. It’s getting together again in the morning and addressing the issue in the morning.

“At the moment, with where the emotions are at the moment, everything’s flared at the moment, Dan. So what we have to do together is get together as a group and address the matter together as a group. And what we have to do is come together and say, today wasn’t good enough.

“Listen, we played against a strong team today, but it’s not an excuse in terms of that, because we give away two silly goals to start off with.

“So we have to address that really in terms of the manner, in terms of the goals we give away, and address that issue first and foremost.”

Interviewer: “What do you say to the supporters who’ve made the trip to Huddersfield on Boxing Day, taken time away from the family, travelled to get behind the club, and then there’s a performance like that that they now travel back home with. What do you say to them?”

Darren: “We’re bitterly disappointed, because nobody in their right mind comes here to give a performance like that, Dan. And if you’re waking up in the morning to think that you’re going to give a performance like that, in reality it isn’t.

“What we have done today, we’ve come here today, we’ve set up, but we’ve given away two silly goals to start off with, which has meant the game’s turned into it.

“So we’re bitterly disappointed for our supporters who have come up here to show their support, because we didn’t start the game in the manner that we should have started the game.”

Interviewer: “Have you asked the lads to think about that as well? Because it’s not easy for fans to travel on Boxing Day. It’s not easy for fans to spend the money to come here on Boxing Day to see the performance like that. What have you said to the players to make them, in essence, apologise to the fans who may want to then travel on Monday when they go to Bradford?”

Darren: “We’ve spoken about the group now, the dressing room, in terms of looking internally within themselves, really. I think that’s the biggest thing, because that’s where it has to start from, within us as individuals.

“And we have to showcase that we’re in an industry, in a sport, where you’re judged on your performances. And that’s the bit that we have to just do, and be honest with that.

“I think that’s where we are as a group, and that’s where the players are at the moment. And we’ve asked the question in terms of today, we came here, but we didn’t start the game right.

“And because we didn’t start the game right, we then allowed the game to get even more away from us because of our decision-making and not staying connected to the game.

“That’s a disappointment where we are in terms of the ability that these boys have got at the moment. They’re not showing it down at the moment, because they’re allowing themselves to get caught up in terms of the rigmaroles of where we are, instead of playing their game in terms of being solid in terms of their game, in and out of possession.

“And that’s the bit, really, that we have to address, because without addressing that, you can’t address the other bits that you need for the game.”

Interviewer: “What’s your role in addressing that?”

Darren: “My role is to continue leading the group. My role is to continue looking at aspects of the game in terms of how the game went, team, players, picking the right team, everything like that that you would do, because as a manager, you take full responsibility of it within the game.

“So, first things first, before I look anywhere else, I always look within myself in terms of the team, the selection, how we went about it today, did we execute the game plan today, which we never had to start off with in the first 10 minutes.

“And those are the bits and pieces we have to look at. So, 20 minutes after the game, it’s all still raw in there. It’s all still, the players are disappointed.

“But in terms of that, we have to look at the game in terms of why it went wrong so quickly. You made a couple of substitutions in terms of bringing Devante Cole and George Hall off, who were potentially giving us that attacking threat inside the second half.”

Interviewer: “What was the thought process behind that?”

Darren: “When you’re 5-0 down, Dan, the game’s away from you, you know, in reality.”

Interviewer: “Would you argue the fans wouldn’t think that?”

Darren: “Let me just explain from here. So, I’ll tell you what’s happening. You’re 5-0 down, Dan. So, from a footballing point of view, you’re 5-0 down. Bringing the two players on stopped the rot because the game was wide open, because we conceded goals.

“So, by bringing Ryan Croasdale on and Jordan Shipley, which done really, really well for us, and Jayden Stockley gave us a focal point and it stopped the rot in terms of it becoming even more goals.

“Sometimes when you’re trying as hard as you can, 3-0 down, then it goes 4-0 and 5-0 down, you’re still running it.

“So, the biggest thing was to stop the rot and I thought Croasdale, Jordan Shipley and Jayden Stockley did that. So, they did what they had to do on the pitch in terms of stopping that and no more goals going in.”

Interviewer: “What does the next two days look like? It’s not a huge amount of time in terms of turnaround for that Bradford game. What does it look like in terms of preparation?”

Darren: “Compete. We’ve got to compete better. I think that’s the biggest thing. I think you’re looking at the team and thinking, oh, football and everything, the first things first, you’ve got to compete.

“I think that’s the biggest message really that we need to do as a group of players, is compete better and equip ourselves better to do that.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Port Vale manager Darren Moore vows not to quit after a 5-0 defeat at Huddersfield…

@LaceNorris: Absolutely brilliant interview by Dan Townley…. love the part where he interrupts Moores Absolutely ridiculous excuse for taking attackers off at 5-0 because he wanted to “Stop the Rot”… even the media team can’t believe he still has a job.

@darcy3217: Would love to know how many times he says ‘in terms of’ Well, in terms of results, we are awful. Time for action from Matt if he has it in him, or the menials will revolt

@NathanShapland_: He’s still not going is he

@TheGolden_Z: It’s alright though. There’s a really good atmosphere around the place. The running stats are great and he’s under no immediate pressure. We should be so thankful to have such a wise owner and CEO. Merry Christmas Valiants!

@TristanWil88128: Not even an apology from him to the fans either disgraceful, Has no accountability whatsoever šŸ˜‚heā€™s brought these shit players in heā€™s playing em out of position and who does he think he is having a go at Dan fucking prick

@pvfcalex: 7 minutes 20 interview and not once does he apologise! Even when asked about what heā€™d like to say to the supporters he spins it and waffles on with more excuses! Absolute fraud of a manager and an absolute coward of a man, get fucked Darren #pvfc

@CraigNeild: We are rock bottom, 10 points from safety, got 4 points from the last 33, and are going to be relegated by February. Other than that itā€™s going swimmingly. Heā€™s tactically clueless and is just stealing a wage off the back of supporters hard earned income.

@sapperclarke: Moore waffle .. 35 points from 25 games required for safety .. If tough decisions aren’t taken it’ll soon be 35 points from 20 games and half way through the transfer window .. Sadly I don’t see a hope in hell of survival without change

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