Port Vale not throwing towel in - Moore
Moore's side have won just three league matches since promotion
- Published
Port Vale boss Darren Moore insists his team still believe they can avoid the drop from League One this season.
Saturday's 1-0 defeat to relegation rivals Peterborough United saw the gap to safety increase to eight points with just over half the campaign to play.
Moore told BBC Radio Stoke: "Everyone's frustrated. You're frustrated, we're frustrated, and the players are, because we're witnessing a team that's not throwing the towel in. We're witnessing a team that's trying and fighting, creating chances.
"Everyone's seeing that the team are working for each other. Despite the position we're in, I don't see them seeing a team with the morale that you associate with a team at the bottom of the table".
The Valiants have lost just one of their last four games in all competitions, but have just three league victories in 20 matches so far. Moore says he accepts responsibility for the side managing just 15 points and only 13 goals.
"I 100% accept responsibility because that's the role, but its my job and the staff's job to regroup and get the players up for going again," he said.
"That's the industry and the sport we're in, but we dust ourselves down and get ready for the next one".
Moore, 51, led the club back up to the third tier last season, and says his players continue to give everything. "They are fighting, but we've got to believe that we can search for, and find, that win that we feel will change our season around.
"We feel that we're close to that one, but it's those moments in games that aren't going our way at the moment. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. The only way we're going to change it is the next opportunity.
"So it's about getting together, staying together and looking to go better, harder and demand more from the next opportunity."
Port Vale's next two matches are away at seventh-placed Huddersfield Town and third-placed Bradford City before a massive home clash on New Year's Day with Blackpool, who are currently two places and eight points above them.
"We'll continue to work hard, we'll keep pushing, we'll keep fighting. It's not like the players are not trying hard. We've just got to be better, demand more, and the goals (we're conceding) come from moments of lack of concentration. At the moment, we have to play the near-perfect game to get those three points.
"If you look at the league, you can't change it. We just need that win, and the eye for the goal and the confidence can come back. Talking about is not going to change it. We need to go through the game, feeling that suffering and pain, and get over the line in the hardest possible way.
"Nobody can grab you by the hand and walk you through it. You've got to actually go through it, and that's the bit we've got to be prepared for."
