Port Vale: We were poor, admits McCombe
VALE defender John McCombe admitted they were below par in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Notts County ... minutes after learning he had been placed on the transfer list.
But the 24-year-old won't be lonely after boss Micky Adams placed his whole squad on the unwanted list in the aftermath of their third successive defeat.
That means McCombe is available for a loan move away from Vale Park, from today, unless Adams performs a U-turn.
The result drops Vale two places to 16th in League Two, while County move up one place to seventh position and into the last play-off berth.
As Vale prepare to host Accrington tomorrow, 24-year-old McCombe, pictured, admitted: "I don't think we played too well, but I think we had quite a number of chances we could have taken.
"In the end, we've got done from two set-pieces and a penalty, which is poor from our perspective.
"County will roll a lot of teams over at Meadow Lane as they've got a lot of good players.
"But now we need to get our heads down for Accrington tomorrow.
"County are a team who if they perform on the day are the best team in this league by quite a distance. But I don't think we played how we can, and if we had have played as well as we have done in some of our games we might have got a result."
Magpies striker Lee Hughes hit a first-half brace, converting a free header from a corner before grabbing his second goal from the penalty spot.
The penalty was conceded by McCombe who bundled over former Valiants striker Luke Rodgers in the box.
Striker Marc Richards converted his own penalty to hand Vale a first-half equaliser, but a Lee Collins own goal after the break sealed County's victory.
Reflecting on his penalty foul, McCombe He added: "It probably was a penalty. But whether it was, or not, I should have stayed on my feet and not dived in one minute before half-time.
"I have enough experience and football knowledge to know not to dive in, but to try to shepherd him away from goal so we can go in at half-time at 1-1. It was a bit of a silly mistake from me.
"Hughes has done well and scored two goals, but as a team we should have defended better against him."
"Hopefully, if we get the chance against him next time we'll defend a lot better."
After last week's Carling Cup defeat at Scunthorpe and Saturday's loss, Vale return to the sanctuary of Vale Park tomorrow when they face League Two rivals Accrington.
They then follow up that tussle with a tough home match against League Two leaders Bournemouth.
"Every game in this league is hard," added McCombe, "but hopefully we can get back home tomorrow and with a big following we can take it to Accrington because we desperately need three points."
Other Port Vale stories online today:
Prove your worth or go, Adams tells under fire squad
Fan zone: Let's hope Adams's bold action doesn't backfire
Adams puts entire squad on transfer market after County defeat
