Port Vale manager Darren Moore insists he is not concerned about a lack of firepower in his team, despite them being held to a 0-0 draw by struggling Carlisle that sees them lose further ground at the top of the League Two table.
Vale have now failed to win any of their last five league matches and find themselves six points behind leaders Walsall, having played a game more, in second place.
They are also now three league games without a goal and have not scored more than once in a match since October, but Moore is not worried and believes his side will start finding the net again soon enough.
“When I look at the calibre of players that I’ve got in those positions and the options [I’m not concerned],” he said.
“Over their careers they’ve shown that they have scored goals, and that’s why they’re here at Vale Park.
“What we’re finding is that opposition are changing tack against us, opposition are trying to condense us, opposition are sitting deep, and opposition are getting men behind the ball.
“And we see what opposition are doing with us, but that’s because they need a result as well.
“Sometimes I take it as a compliment for us in terms of where we are.
“What we have to do is find ways around it.”
Vale end the year with two away games – against Bradford and Grimsby – and Moore was keen to take the positives from his side’s last home outing of 2024.
“We finish the year here at home making sure we didn’t lose the game,” he added.
“It’s another clean sheet and the players are finding a resilience to play the game when they’re really closely-fought at 0-0.
“And while it’s still 0-0, I said it gives us a chance to win the game, so we’ve got to move on.”
A point for Carlisle sees them move off the bottom of the table ahead of Morecambe.
Boss Mike Williamson was delighted with his team’s battling display.
“To see the lads defend and putting their bodies on the line, and having to deal with a lot – obviously (Jayden) Stockley up front is an absolute handful – for 90 minutes, it was testament to the boys,” he said.
“I thought it was a real collective effort from front to back.
“The centre-halves are going to be a bit black and blue. They’ve taken an absolute battering.
“It was a tough game, but the energy of the front lads and desire to try and stop them at source and cover the ground was excellent.
“Everyone that came in that hasn’t had much football recently did themselves proud, did the club proud and that’s what we need obviously with the festive fixtures coming up.
“There’s a lot of football thick and fast, and we’re going to need everyone.”
