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Page hails Port Vale show

Image: Rob Page: Plenty of positives

Rob Page labelled Port Vale's 1-0 win at Notts County as the "most complete" display of his short time as manager.

Page succeeded Micky Adams in September after a dismal start to the campaign but a seventh-minute goal by Mark Marshall earned Vale their third straight win to go ninth in League One, three points shy of the play-off places. "It's three wins in a row and that was a big performance. It was the most complete I've seen since I have taken over," said Page. "We knew we would be under pressure for large spells of the game but knew we had the quality to hurt them, which we proved in the end. "Ryan Innis has come in and we've had three clean sheets. He has been a big part of that, of course, but I don't want to take credit away from the rest of the lads because from front to back it's a real team effort. "There is a real work ethic and a desire to work for each other. We defended outstandingly against Notts. We know we can hurt teams it was just a question, away from home, of keeping clean sheets. "Don't get me wrong we were really under the cosh, but I knew we would be under pressure at some point in the game." After Marshall had bagged his third goal in four games, taking advantage of a mix-up between Mike Edwards and his goalkeeper Roy Carroll, Notts had the better of the remaining first 45 minutes. Northern Ireland international Paddy McCourt, pulling the strings for the home side, played Garry Thompson through on goal but he fluffed his lines and Liam Noble was next to squander an opening. It was the same story after the break with Noble heading off target, while Thompson's effort was met by a fine save from Chris Neal. Magpies manager Shaun Derry said: "I can't say anything other than what the 5,000 fans saw this afternoon. "They saw a team dominate from the first minute to the 45th, but we conceded a very sloppy goal. "We struggled at times to break down a resolute back line and it was the story of the game. "We had three great chances to score in the first half and I would only be worried if we were not creating any. "The lead up to them was fantastic to watch too and, at times this season, it's been dogged to watch at times. "But then we were winning games. I want us to win ugly and want us to go back to those ways. We have to get results, that's what we are in the game for."

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