Phil Sherwin: Vale's legion of fans deserved better than this

IT WAS disappointing to see Vale lose in front of such a large Vale away following.

We huffed and puffed a bit, especially in the second half, but didn't have enough creativity to make the breakthrough – and that's not the first time we've said that this season.

The defence was solid enough, apart from the goal, but the midfield was left wanting. When that happens the forwards don't get much of a sniff – and that's what happened on Saturday.

Gareth Owen has also been very solid and, in my opinion, should be the team captain. I'm not suggesting Tommy Fraser has done a John Terry or anything, I just think he might be a better player without the added burden.

He could well be the youngest captain in the Football League, but may be better off just channelling his energies into his own game.

We've certainly got plenty of options up front, but a struggling midfield negates all that.

This defeat was probably a bit of a reality check if the truth be known, because I think the league table has pitched us about right.

We are a cut above the bottom few, but not quite firing on enough cylinders to be classed as a top-seven side.

The fact we have only won one game against a team in the current top 10 – Shrewsbury away – bears that out.

We've got a chance to double that number tomorrow with a win over Chesterfield at Vale Park, and that would lift everyone's spirits again.

Being a few points behind the play-off positions, as we are at the moment, always puts us in that scenario.

Lose a game, and people will say it's all over. Win one, and it's all back on again.

If we went on a run of win one lose one, it would still keep us in with a chance of the play-offs up until five games to go, then we would probably have to step it up a bit.

But things are still a lot better than they were though.

The support at Burton was tremendous. I know it's not far to go, but to have near enough half of the crowd behind us was great, even though it doesn't always get a result.

To have such numbers at home and away this season, considering there is a Premier League team less than five miles away, is superb. Actually, it is probably unique in the present day.