Port Vale focus must 'go down to wire' - Croasdale

Ryan Croasdale joined Port Vale in the summer of 2024 after four seasons with Stockport County

Port Vale midfielder Ryan Croasdale says the team have to remain concentrated "down to the wire" after two late goals deprived them of their first league win of the season.

Vale looked set to pick up their first three points of the League One campaign on Tuesday, leading early pace-setters Stevenage 1-0 with two minutes remaining.

But two goals in three minutes from Jamie Read - both emanating from long throw-ins - stunned Vale, with Stevenage's winner coming in the first of seven minutes of added time.

The result leaves the Valiants with two points from their first four games of the season.

"It was really frustrating," Croasdale told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We needed that second goal to kill off the game and to concede two set-piece goals right at the end was very disappointing."

Vale's late frustration came after a battling performance three days earlier when they secured a goalless draw at Burton, having played for 75 minutes with 10 men after captain George Byers was sent off.

Croasdale said having dug-in for that point in difficult circumstances, letting things slip against Stevenage was hard to take.

"I think it is a concentration thing," he said.

"We were down to 10 men on Saturday and the lads put a shift in but coming into the latter part of games - especially at this level where we're playing better teams - you've got to go down to the wire with your concentration but obviously we've had a lapse and conceded two.

"We always knew that set-pieces, even at League Two level, was going to be an issue but we've got to learn quickly - learning on the job I suppose - and we've got to put it right."

'Always trying to improve'

Croasdale is playing in the third tier for the first time this season and came into the campaign determined to prove he could perform at that level.

With last season's League Two champions - and fellow promotion winners -Doncaster coming to Vale Park on Saturday, the 30-year-old believes a first victory feels close.

"Apart from the first half at Rotherham, we've performed really well and up until the last 10 minutes [against Stevenage] we've performed well - but it's about fine margins," he said.

"We do lots of video analysis and have two or three set-piece sessions throughout the week. We'll have a chat about what happened and hopefully we can put it right on Saturday.

"We're always trying to improve and always trying to learn. If we can get that first win on the board, it will give everyone a boost."