Jon Brady admits games are catching up with Port Vale after loss to Doncaster

Port Vale boss Jon Brady admitted the games are catching up with his side after they lost 1-0 at a wet and windy Doncaster to remain rooted to the bottom of the League One table.

In their seventh match of the month, a first-half Elijah Campbell own goal consigned them to defeat in South Yorkshire, leaving them 11 points adrift of safety.

“As much as we tried – and people will say it’s an excuse – it’s an accumulation of games over so many weeks,” said Brady.

“Because we’re churning out so many games, we’re not getting the rest – even they looked tired, it felt like a tired game. I felt it after about five or 10 minutes.

“We lacked quality, they lacked quality, it must have been a poor game to watch – they had two shots on target and we had three. And for the goal, it’s a deflection, we go to clear it and it comes off Elijah’s foot and goes in the net, and we’ve gifted them the goal.”

Brady insisted his players have to change their outlook, despite their tiredness, adding: “They are disappointed with themselves, but if they want to achieve anything then their mindset has to be better.

“We’ve got try and change it individually and collectively. You can’t go out feeling sorry for yourselves.”

The game’s only goal came after 22 minutes when Jack Senior’s cross to the back post found Jamie Sterry, whose driven cross was sliced into his own net by Campbell.

The win for Doncaster took them to the magic 50-point mark, eight points clear of the drop zone and all but secured their survival, with manager Grant McCann pleased to have reached that particular milestone.

“It was another good win and I thought we played some good stuff in the first half and we probably could have been more than one up – we didn’t shoot enough,” he said.

“Second half was bit of a non event, but we didn’t need to score, we just needed to defend. We didn’t give up any chances and it’s another good three points and three clean sheets in a row. It’s been a really good second half of the season.

“That was a tough match tonight – they’re down at the bottom and they’re fighting hard to get themselves out of their predicament. They gave us a good game, they’ve got some good players and I’m just pleased we managed to get the three points.”

McCann paid tribute to his opposite number Brady, who only took over in January when they looked dead and buried, and they still have an outside chance of staying up, while also progressing to the FA Cup quarter-final.

“I think Jon’s done an amazing job since he’s been there,” said McCann. “It’s been a very difficult job and they’ve had some big results over the past few weeks.”