Goalkeeper Chris Martin has played every minute for Port Vale this season

Port Vale defender Adam Yates has praised the 'maturity' of young goalkeeper Chris Martin.

Martin, 19, produced a string of fine saves to help Vale pick up all three points away at Torquay on Saturday.

Yates told BBC Radio Stoke: "Chris has made saves at vital times and he's done that many times this season.

"He knows the areas he needs to work on, but you look at him and at 19 he's mature beyond his age. He's only going to improve, he's learning every day."

Martin, who came into the team in place of the injured Joe Anyon in March, has played every game for Micky Adams' side this season, conceding just 29 goals in 29 league matches.

In January, Martin became the first Vale goalkeeper since Mark Goodlad in December 2006 to keep three consecutive clean sheets.

Yates, himself, has been part of one of the best defences in League Two during the current campaign, but he is aware that a spell of bad form could see him lose his place in the side.

"I feel comfortable there, but Anthony Griffith or Lee Collins could play there so I need to be pushing myself," added the former Morecambe right-back.

"Micky's an honest manager, he'll tell you if you're not playing well. I think defensively we've been pretty good over the last couple of months and on the whole we've defended well."

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