Valiants must be ready for a big step up in standard, insists Pope

TOM Pope believes that Port Vale must strike the right balance on their League One return.

- Clive Youlton

The Valiants legend, who scored 115 goals in 343 games for the club over two spells, reckons Darren Moore will still have to be defensive-minded but hopes they will be a bit more expansive this time around.

Last season Vale won 1-0 nine times in all competitions while they failed to score in 10 of their 46 league games.

"It seems to me he [Moore] was a bit like Gareth Southgate, he had a lot of attacking players and he'd rather set up and defend," said Pope.

"He didn’t really let the reins off, the handbrake was on for a large part until then the panic started to hit around Christmas and all of a sudden the teams above them just threw it away. Like Walsall, who capitulated.

"I think if they could take on next season at full throttle with two up front and go after teams I think they will probably have an easier season."