PORT Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby could not hide his disappointment after they were beaten 1-0 at Colchester United.

It looked as though play-off chasing Vale were on track to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches at the JobServe Community Stadium.

However, Tom Dallison's 85th-minute winner secured the U's a precious victory, condemning Vale to defeat.

Crosby, who took charge of Vale again due to boss Darrell Clarke being absent because of a family bereavement, said: "It was extremely disappointing.

“In the first half we were out-fought and out-battled.

“We got out run, we did not win enough duels and when we got the ball we were so ponderous and so slow and took too many touches of the ball.

"We didn't execute our game plan to utilise our wide centre-backs and step in.

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“There was an improvement in the second half and won more of the ball, but we were still lacking creativity in the final third.

“We then committed the cardinal sin of conceding a goal from a set play with five minutes to go.

“We did not come here to draw 0-0; take the clean sheet and the point and move on to the next one but we give a free header away with five minutes left.

“We should be coming here and dominating, with or without the ball.

“The players have heard my feelings.

“I am upset and angry because I expected more from them.

“We are going to have to improve over the final 13 games because as things stand we are going to miss out on making the play-offs.”

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Meanwhile Vale wing-back David Worrall admits his side's defeat at Colchester was a painful one.

The former Southend United attacker says they need to try and go on another run to reignite their play-off hopes.

Worrall said: "Any defeat, even if you're in the top three or in the play-offs, is going to hurt at this stage.

"The teams that can get a run going now will see themselves in there and we need to make sure that we are that team."