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Grew: Stopper not to blame

Image: Tomlinson: Conceded 45-yard goal

Port Vale assistant manager Mark Grew says Stuart Tomlinson should not dwell on Peter Leven's 45-yard lob during the defeat at Oxford.

Tomlinson was left red-faced by the midfielder's match-winning effort from just inside the Vale half on Saturday. Grew, a former goalkeeper, can relate to Tomlinson's frustration as he suffered a similar experience when beaten from distance by Swindon defender Colin Calderwood in a 3-0 defeat at the County Ground in 1990. "Some people say Tommo shouldn't have been beaten from that range, but it was a great piece of skill and vision so you've got to give Leven a lot of credit," Grew told the Sentinel. "I got done at Swindon and people always remember the goals that go in, rather than your saves. I looked at myself that day and you never forget those moments and you're critical of yourself. But Tommo was just undone by an unbelievable piece of skill. "There's nothing he can do about it now, so he's got to concentrate on doing things right if he plays on Saturday. If you start worrying about every mistake, you'll be a nervous wreck." However, Grew did blame Tomlinson for Oxford's first goal when the goalkeeper came and missed Leven's corner allowing former Stoke defender Michael Duberry to head in. He added: "I was more critical of Tommo for that goal because he was definitely at fault. He shouldn't have come off his line as there wasn't enough height on the delivery and he never got there."

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