Lack of goals cost Port Vale a play-off place - Yates

Full-back Yates is close to signing a new contract at Port Vale

Adam Yates has pinpointed a lack of goals as the main reason for Port Vale's failure to reach the play-offs.

Vale have found the net just 47 times in 44 matches, with only Bradford and Lincoln scoring fewer in League Two.

"We've had two good seasons defensively but I don't think we score," the defender told BBC Radio Stoke.

"The defenders and midfielders need to chip in more. Marc Richards will score you 20 goals a year and Justin Richards has been a bit unlucky at times."

Captain Marc Richards has scored 15 league goals [19 in all competitions], while strike partner Justin Richards has scored 11 times, although only six of them have come in League Two.

Other than those two players, no one in the Vale squad has scored more than four goals in the league this season.

Vale's promotion challenge effectively ended on Monday with a 1-0 defeat at Stevenage.

They are six points away from a play-off place with two matches remaining, while their goal difference of plus one is vastly inferior to the teams above them.

"We're disappointed because we've been in good positions this year and we just haven't done enough," admitted Yates.

"We were top of the league at one point and to not finish in the play-offs is a massive disappointment for the players and the fans. I feel sorry for them."

Yates, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is close to agreeing a new deal at Vale Park.