Vale riding the crest of a wave

Port Vale has never entered a game in as much heart as tonight, says three-year manager Micky Adams.

His team has taken four points from its first two games, despite being unfancied by pundits.

“That’s as good as we have produced since I have been a manager here,” said Adams, the ninth-longest serving boss in the Football League.

“The football we played, the opportunities we created and the way we defended — not only as a back five but as a team — were excellent.”

Athletic boss Lee Johnson will have a good idea of what to expect from the opposition, having watched them this season and with the experience of playing under the 52 year old at Brighton against Cardiff in 2000.

Whether Athletic are able to outgun Vale may well depend on how they combat the physical threat posed by target man Tom Pope.

Adams’ side isn’t afraid to get the ball up to the forward quickly and get men in and around him — a tactic that has already caused Johnson’s men problems this season.

“It will be a tough game; peter out like we did against Orient and we will be beaten,” Johnson warned.

“These boys have to go home, look at themselves in the mirror and get rallied.”