Cotterill hails ruthless City

Steve Cotterill praised Bristol City's ruthlessness as they swept aside Port Vale 3-0 to go four points clear at the top of the table.

Aaron Wilbraham netted twice to take his tally to seven goals in eight games with big defender Aden Flint heading City's second in between. It was City's fourth successive victory as they cantered to three points against Micky Adams' Vale, who have now lost six games on the bounce. Cotterill said: "Vale are having a tough time and the early goal dented their confidence. "We were ruthless and I was very pleased with the performance. "They tried to press the ball, but we found spaces between the lines, passed it very well and our spirit and attitude were spot on. "We have come from behind in games this season and we have also shown we are a good side when we've got our noses in front. "When teams open up and come at us we've got the players who have got the passing ability and pace to take advantage of that. "I'm delighted for Aaron Wilbraham. He's a fantastic lad and if he keeps going as he is he could be on for his best season in terms of scoring goals. "That's also three clean sheets on the bounce, which is terrific considering the type of open and expansive game we are playing. "Our belief and confidence is growing and let's hope that continues." Tom Pope squandered an early chance for Vale before Wilbraham gave the classy visitors a 13th-minute lead. Flint headed Luke Freeman's cross against the crossbar and Wilbraham reacted first to turn a close-range shot past Vale goalkeeper Chris Neal. Vale worked hard to get back into the game for the remainder of the first-half, but failed to extend Bristol goalkeeper Frank Fielding. And Adams' team had a mountain to climb three minutes after the interval when Flint doubled the visitors' lead. The Vale defence failed to deal with Freeman's left-wing free-kick and Flint headed Wilbraham's cross into the centre of goal from four yards. Adams made a triple substitution in the 55th minute in an attempt to turn the tide, but Wilbraham effectively ended the contest when he poached his second goal six minutes later. The big striker seized on Ryan McGivern's poor header to round the on-rushing Neal and slot the ball into an empty net. A downcast Adams said afterwards: "It's not good enough. We've played against a very good side who are top of the table, but the same things are undoing us week after week. "We can't defend set-pieces and we keep making individual errors. "I've not said a lot to the players because my emotions are all over the place at the moment. "Every individual in that dressing room is good enough, but a lot of them are down on confidence. "If that is down to them, me or the way we are going about our jobs, I just don't know. "I've been a player myself and everyone goes through these sort of periods. "Unfortunately in football there is no pill you can take to improve things. "Every manager has a shelf-life at a club and maybe I've reached mine. "But that decision is for another day and Micky Adams is certainly no quitter."