Port Vale manager Darren Moore conceded that his team were undone by the intense atmosphere at Brunton Park as they fell to a 3-2 defeat against Carlisle United.
The loss ended a strong run of form for Vale, who had won six of their previous seven matches. Despite remaining top of League Two, Moore’s side now find their lead narrowing after struggling to cope with the energy generated by the home crowd of 12,305.
First-Half Struggles Prove Costly
Moore was frank in his assessment, highlighting his team’s sluggish start as pivotal to the outcome. Carlisle capitalised on early errors, taking advantage of uncharacteristic sloppiness in Vale’s play.
“For us, the game was lost in the first half. I didn’t think we were quite ourselves. We got caught up in the atmosphere here and the magnitude of the game. We never grabbed composure in the first half like we know we can. It became a bit frantic in that time,” said Moore.
He pinpointed poor ball retention and defensive lapses as the reasons behind Carlisle’s first two goals. Although Vale altered their shape and increased their attacking threat after the break, the damage was already done.
Carlisle’s third goal, which Moore felt should have been dealt with by his defence, proved decisive despite a spirited Vale comeback that saw them pull two goals back. A late surge almost saw the visitors snatch a point, but an outstanding save by Carlisle keeper Gabe Breeze kept them at bay.
Moore praised the resilience shown in the second half but admitted frustration that his team had allowed the game to slip away in the first 45 minutes.
Port Vale, who still sit top of the table, are now only one point ahead of their nearest challengers and three clear of the play-off spots as the promotion race heats up.
Writer’s View
Port Vale’s stumble at Carlisle serves as a timely reminder that atmosphere and pressure can disrupt even the most in-form sides. Darren Moore’s honesty about their shortcomings will likely help refocus the squad for the final run-in. With promotion within reach, Vale must ensure they control games rather than letting external factors dictate the tempo.
