Winning more duels key to Vale recovery - Croasdale

Ryan Croasdale (second right) won promotion with Stockport County to League Two in 2020-21 and joined Port Vale last summer

Port Vale midfielder Ryan Croasdale says winning more individual battles on the pitch will help unlock an improvement in results.

Although Vale have been competitive on their return to League One this season they are yet to win, having suffered five single-goal defeats and two draws in their first seven matches.

Croasdale's first goal of the campaign put the Valiants ahead in their last match against Leyton Orient before they conceded in the fifth minute of injury-time to lose 3-2.

As part of this week's preparations for Saturday's trip to Exeter City, Croasdale said manager Darren Moore highlighted one key metric they need to address.

"We've had a stat from the gaffer about our duels on the pitch," Croasdale told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We've lost a lot more than we did last year and I think if everyone can take that into the game - that 'I've got to beat my midfielder in the duels' - hopefully that can have a knock-on effect on everyone on the pitch."

Ahead of the weekend's trip to St James Park, Croasdale said it was vital Vale's approach was collective.

"If everyone's doing their job on the pitch then obviously you've got more [chance] of an outcome of getting three points," he said.

"Hopefully the fans can see that we're still giving 110%, there's no doubt about that, it's the fine margins we need to nit-pick.

"It's always tricky but you've got to bounce back and take it a game at a time.

"I think performance-wise, 90% we've been there it's just that little bit of detail we've been punished on going into League One.

"Obviously, the higher up you go, you're going to get punished on small mistakes so we've got to cut the mistakes."

Croasdale 'leading by example'

Having played in all but one game of Vale's promotion from League Two last season, Croasdale is experiencing League One football for the first time in his career.

Ahead of the new campaign, he said he was keen to "prove people wrong" over whether or not he could cut it at the higher level and has been happy with how he's adapted so far this term.

"I like to lead by example with my work rate," he said.

"Last year did me the world of good - playing a full season and going into League One I was full of confidence.

"Everyone's going to question you if you've not played there before but it was the same when I made the jump up to League Two - I'd never played there before but that first year I got to the play-off final.

"It's just about backing yourself and kicking on."