Port Vale must not become nearly men - Moore

Darren Moore's Port Vale have lost only seven times this season, the joint-lowest number of defeats in League Two

Port Vale boss Darren Moore says he does not want his side to become "the nearly men" in games as they try to cement their place in the League Two play-offs.

Vale were beaten for the first time this year as they lost 2-1 at fellow top-seven chasers Colchester on Tuesday.

After three straight draws, the result stretched the Valiants' winless run to four matches as they remained in sixth spot, two points clear of eighth-placed Grimsby Town.

"For the form we've been in, for it to end in that manner was disappointing," Moore told BBC Radio Stoke.

It had looked like Vale were going to secure a fourth draw in as many games when substitute Rico Richards levelled with five minutes to go, only for Fiacre Kelleher to head in a late winner for the home side.

"We worked so hard to get back in the game and then to give away a needless free-kick - we certainly did things from a defensive point of view we need to learn from," Moore said.

"Our concentration levels certainly need to be better. We've discussed it and put it to bed.

"We had some good chances but we talk about that ruthless nature in that final third and we never [did that]. We need to force those chances into the net.

"We don't want to become the nearly men. We want to get it done."

Vale have a game in hand over the rest of the teams chasing a play-off place and take on MK Dons at Vale Park on Saturday as they enter their final 11 games.

Moore wants his squad to sharpen their minds - as well as their finishing - as they go into the crucial part of the regular season.

"We spoke about coming into this phase three weeks ago that we don't want any excuses," Moore said.

"We want to make sure we're going into games with the right mentality.

"It's up to the players to seize that opportunity and make the right decision - to score or find someone in a better position to score."

Captain Garrity close to recall

Ben Garrity helped Port Vale stay unbeaten for 17 matches before he was injured in mid-February

A positive to come out of the Colchester game for Vale was the return to fitness of striker Jayden Stockley after a month out with injury.

Moore said it was "great" to have the player back and also confirmed captain Ben Garrity had now returned to training.

The influential midfielder has missed the past five matches with an ankle problem but has made "wonderful progress" according to Moore.

"We're monitoring him and getting the right volume of training into him. You just don't want any reactions to the injury," Moore said.

"He's a fantastic individual - a real driving force for us. We knew we'd be getting him back at a really important time and to have him back for the run-in is fantastic."