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| Graham Westley |
STEVENAGE Borough manager Graham Westley said he has "no idea" why his team was on the receiving end of a stinging attack by Port Vale captain Tommy Fraser.
Speaking in an interview ahead of Tuesday evening's FA Cup First Round replay, Fraser called Boro "cocky from the manager down" and said Graham Westley's side were "thinking they are better than they are".
The midfielder picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in his side's 2-1 defeat by Rotherham at the weekend and will now miss the game through suspension, but although his pre-match comments slightly surprised Westley the Boro boss seemed unfazed by the verbal assault.
"I've not got a clue why he's said that," Westley said.
"One thing about ourselves is we talk regularly in-house about us being ordinary people and the way to get success is to knuckle down and work hard. The thing about my team is I've never had a group working so hard.
"I don't really care about it. What affects us is our own ambitions and our own desire."
Westley said he will be looking for more from his team against Vale the second time around despite an impressive display in the first game.
"We didn't show enough purpose, clinicality, and maybe intelligence. We didn't cause as many problems as we should have from crosses, about where (to put the ball) and where the strikers are attacking.
"We will not be approaching it with a 'more of the same' concept because we drew the game last time, we didn't win it. We need to do more and improve on that and I think we're capable of doing it."
Boro go into the game on the back of a 5-3 victory over Gateshead at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon with goals from Yemi Odubade, Michael Bostwick and a hat-trick from Charlie Griffin.
Speaking about the game, Westley said: "It was good to see them hit the back of the net five times. That was long overdue and I'm pleased in that regard, but we did concede three goals and they came from set plays so I'm disappointed with that.
"They (Gateshead) were smart. They had the wind behind them in the first half and they stopped us from playing from the back and our goalkeeper needed to kick everything up front. They didn't allow us any room and that was a problem for us, it was difficult.
"Five minutes before they scored I could see it coming because we weren't taking responsibility to get control of the game. I was feeling frustrated by that and we paid the price.
"Charlie Griffin got his three goals but he wasn't the star man. Jon Ashton at the back or Bostwick in the middle, they made big contributions throughout the 90 minutes."
Speaking about Bostwick's 30-yard strike to make it 5-3 with the last kick of the match, Westley said: "Bostwick does in training what he did on Saturday; he regularly puts the ball in from 30 yards out. He's versatile, reliable, dependable.
Related Links
Port Vale captain launches attack on Boro >>Boro v Gateshead Match Report >>Boro v Gateshead Gallery >>
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