Darren Moore delighted as Port Vale pick up first win of season at Exeter

Darren Moore celebrated Port Vale’s first League One win of the season and claimed it was the “perfect away performance”.

The Valiants capitalised on two defensive mistakes from Exeter, with Ruari Paton and Devante Cole scoring in the first half to seal the 2-0 victory.

“It’s a perfect away performance for us,” Moore said. “I’m really pleased for us all to finally get the three points.

“After the work we have been doing in the weeks leading up to this, it’s great to see the performance we have put in and the three points.

“We got the press and the pressure on the ball right. When it fell to Ruari I just thought it was a devastating finish. It put Exeter on the back foot and quietened the crowd a little.

“Then Rauri assisted with Devante’s goal and what pleased me most with Devante was the composure with the finish.

“So, two devastating finishes from our front two. After that it was about us doing the work off the ball, which we did.

“The biggest thing today was to get the clean sheet to stop the rot. We got that. I am pleased we’ve won but I am delighted with that. I knew if we could keep the back door shut, we would score.”

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell took full responsibility for the defeat, with both goals coming from Exeter mistakes and their attempts to play out from the back.

“I am really disappointed to lose at home when we had been winning games at home and it was another game where I felt we gifted the opposition goals and momentum in the game,” he said.

“When you go 2-0 down, as we did at Northampton, then it is always difficult. Both goals were of our own doing, but I take full responsibility for that because I want them to play out from the back.

“I don’t think we can be a team that plays direct, so I will take full responsibility for that, but I need the players to be braver when they have the ball.

“I was very clear at half-time about what we had to do. Too many players were affected by the negativity of the crowd and we have to stick to our principles in those situations.

“I told the players I was with them, I back them and I thought there was plenty of effort there in the second half, but we left ourselves with too much to do.

“We have to move on quickly, but we have to look at ourselves and ask what we can do better, but I want to see them play with more belief and confidence.”