Port Vale boss delighted with his team's efforts in defeat against a top team like Peterborough United

It’s now seven games with a win – and five games without a goal – after a 1-0 victory for Peterborough United at Vale Park. Vale are now 14th albeit just five points off a play-off place.

Ephron Mason-Clark’s early header separated the teams at the final whistle after a match which saw two lengthy periods of stoppage time because of a succession of injuries.

But Vale dominated large spells of the contest.

Crosby told the Evening Sentinel: “The effort, the application, the commitment….we went right to the end. We have played one of the top teams in the division with a real attacking threat and presence.

"We went behind early in the game after they had dominated the early period, but we changed the shape and then pressed with a bit more intensity and turned a few balls over. We seem to be saying the same thing when we get into the final third – we are not executing the finish or the cross.

“But the effort and the commitment to keep going and not feel sorry for yourself….that is what you have to do.

“I have just said, we have two choices. We can start feeling sorry for ourselves and splinter as a group. But I am 100 per cent sure that is not going to happen.

“I look at the lads and they are giving absolutely everything for the cause. We have played a lot of the top boys already in the division. We have run some of them really close.

“There are things we are always looking to improve on and learn from. We have gone right to the end but we couldn’t get that goal.”

Both Kofi Balmer and Mitch Clark face long spells on the sidelines after picking up serious injuries last night.