First team coach James Collins says derby clash gives us platform to end losing streak.

Assistant manager James Collins believes that Saturday’s local derby against Port Vale has come at the right time.

The club’s first team coach believes that this weekend’s encounter with Rob Page’s Port Vale is just the tonic for the players to get over Saturday’s poor showing at Peterborough. Crewe need a footballing miracle to stay in League One but Collins says it is important that the players rise to the occasion to give our fans something to shout about at Vale Park.

James told crewealex.net: “I think that the Vale game has come at really good time for us. Despite the circumstances, the players know what it means to the supporters to beat Port Vale.

We haven’t given our fans too much to shout about this season in terms of the results we have had, so it would be nice to perform well in a local derby and win the game for them.

“They are all important games but the Port Vale fixtures were the ones we all looked for first in pre-season.

“With the hype and attention a local derby gets in the build-up, if the players are not up for it then there is something wrong.

James added: “No-one here was happy with our performance last week and I think that this game has come at a really good time for us. We need to get out of our losing habit and there is no better place to do that than at the home our neighbours.”