Crewe Alexandra’s first team coach, Alex Morris, has praised the job John Askey has achieved at Port Vale.

Askey has certainly come in and steadied the ship at Vale Park after succeeding Neil Aspin as manager and a superb 2-1 win away at Northampton Town last weekend has eased any fears of them being dragged back down into a relegation scrap.

The former Macclesfield and Shrewsbury boss has led Port Vale to three wins and a draw in their last five games after initially having a tough opening.

Morris told crewealex.net: “John has done a very good job. It was a slow burner and he needed a bit of time to put his own ideas across. It was a few games before he got that first win but it was a difficult job to come into and he has changed the system and played his way.

“He has moved away from the three at the back and has changed it more often than not to 4-3-3 and they press high up the pitch.

“The balance is there and I’ve watched them and they play some good football. I saw them against Mansfield and they were the much better side that day. They controlled the game a bit like we did at Mansfield and they deserved to win.”