Port Vale boss John Askey praises David Amoo after scoring winner against Orient

Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

John Askey paid tribute to match-winner David Amoo after the forward’s second-half goal secured Port Vale a 1-0 win against Leyton Orient.

Amoo latched on to Leon Legge’s pass into the box and rifled the ball past Sargeant for his fifth goal of the season.

The win was Vale’s first at home since December 29.

Manager Askey said: “David started the game really well and caused Orient some problems.

“I am sure the goal will do his confidence good and, hopefully, he’ll get stronger as the season continues.

“I thought we played some good football, the best we have played for a few weeks now, and I was pleased with that and the amount of chances we created.

“We should have put it to bed, we had quite a lot of chances, easy chances, and while it is only 1-0 you are always susceptible to conceding, which we nearly did.

“I am just pleased that we managed to hang in, and hang on to the three points.

“It starts from the top and it is a team effort.

“It has not been easy this last few weeks with the amount of games we have had, but we have got six points from the last three games which is great, especially with two of them being away.”

Vale twice went close in the opening five minutes when Will Atkinson failed to connect with the ball inside the six-yard box after David Worrall sent in an inch-perfect cross, before Worrall himself slammed the ball wide after meeting Mark Cullen’s pass.

Orient, without a league win since mid-December, nearly took the lead came when Lee Angol sent the ball into the box for Josh Wright, but his effort was superbly smothered by Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown.

The home side went close, with Cullen hitting the ball straight at O’s goalkeeper Sam Sargeant, before they broke the deadlock.

Orient manager Ross Embleton said: “We did not give ourselves enough of a platform to work our way into the game.

“I felt we were too acceptant.

“Teams like Port Vale are going to have a go at you and be tough to beat.

“We can talk about creating chances and being dominant, but all of it is irrelevant if we don’t impose ourselves on the game.

“We have to be strong because, today, we were nudged off the ball and there was not enough focus on imposing ourselves on the game in what we did, and especially when we didn’t have the ball.

“It hasn’t been good enough.

“Our league position is a concern and we have expressed that to the lads.

“Do we have a divine right to turn up every week and just automatically win a game of football? No.

“We need to start understanding that and realise that it is not going to be the case.”