Boss Brady wants change of mentality at Port Vale

Port Vale boss Jon Brady has called for a change of mentality in his players after suffering a first defeat since joining the League One strugglers.

Brady opened his tenure with two wins as the Valiants maintained their good knock-out form this season by progressing in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

But the struggles continued for the bottom side as they failed to capitalise on a good first half away to Mansfield on Saturday and went down 3-0.

"I was pleased in the first half but not the second because we didn't have an effort on target," Brady told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We had enough entries into the box and efforts to score in the first half, definitely, but we've got to change the mentality of the group as well.

"Even when we go 1-0 down, I want to still look like us. This group are then in a moment when they try too hard and go into positions they shouldn't and we lose our shape."

As well as lacking a cutting edge up front, Brady was also concerned about a drop-off in physicality in the second half. But, in this regard, he says he knows what he needs to change.

"We had 70% of duels won in the first half - we were down to 30% in the second half. That's a stat that's huge to me," he said, adding: "I knew this was going to be a tough challenge but I'm up for the challenge and let's go and face it head on.

"A brilliant first half, not good enough second half and we've got to make sure we get that right."

Brady also confirmed Marvin Johnson could be set to leave, having joined the club as a free agent in October.

The former Sheffield Wednesday wing-back did not feature in Saturday's squad.

"He was on a short-term contract. He came in before I was in the building and I think there were murmurings that he wanted to move on so it's just as simple as that," said Brady.