Boss Kieran McKenna felt tonight’s hard-fought from-behind 2-1 victory over Port Vale was sweeter than the more comfortable home wins which have become commonplace at Portman Road in recent weeks.

Nathan Broadhead netted twice after the break, the second from the penalty spot, as the Blues, who thrashed Charlton 6-0 on Saturday, came from a goal down at half-time to claim a vital three points to stay on the tail of leaders Plymouth and ahead of Sheffield Wednesday, both of whom also won 2-1 this evening.

“It was a really big win for us, no doubt about it,” McKenna said. “A really enjoyable way to win a game, to be honest, because we’ve had a different dynamic in lots of our home games lately - we’ve scored early and gone on to score a lot of goals and been comfortable.

“We always knew and still know that between now and the end of the season there are going to be some situations of adversity that we’re going to have to come through and tonight was a big one.

“And when you win a game like that, sometimes it feels even sweeter than a big landslide victory like Saturday.”

Asked what he was expecting from Port Vale, who sacked manager Darrell Clarke on Monday and have his assistant Andy Crosby in interim charge, McKenna reflected: “It was hard to know because I think they’re statistically in the top three highest pressing teams in the league, so they’re usually a really aggressive, man-to-man pressing team.

“So with the new manager that was part of the challenge. We didn’t know which way it would go. It could either have been really aggressive man-to-man but it ended up as as deep a block as you’re going to see anywhere.

“That’s a really big challenge for any team in world football and certainly a big challenge for a League One team which is still developing.

“It was tough to overcome. We could have scored early, we could have scored in the first 25 seconds. We started the game pretty well but when you don’t get the goal and they’re getting deeper and deeper and different things are going on, it becomes a big challenge.

“And that’s amplified greatly when they score a great goal on the stroke of half-time and that put us in a really difficult situation.

“Coming out of that situation showing the spirit and belief and fitness and adherence to our principles as we did and to get the win in that way can be a really big win for us in the season.”

Asked what his messages to his players were at half-time, he said: “There were two bits really. Tactically, we had to improve and adjust a few things. We needed to be more aggressive with a couple of our positions to get more bodies against the last line and more threat on the last line.

“We adjusted a few things tactically, but the more important bit was probably the mental bit. We spoke about knowing that at some stage we were going to have a situation like that, it’s not all going to be comfortable wins, and if we want to be successful at the end of the season we’re going to have to come through a couple of situations like that.

“So it was about belief, composure, not getting too caught up in the emotion of the game, while still trying to build the pressure and build the emotion in the stadium but being composed in ourselves.

“Handling the emotion of the 45 minutes to come was probably the biggest challenge and I thought we did that really well.”

McKenna had praise for Broadhead’s calmness as he netted the penalty which claimed the points while Port Vale sought to distract the Wales international, play mind games and delay its taking for as long as they could.

“I don’t think there are many who handle pressure better than Nathan. He’s so composed, so he stuck it away really well,” McKenna said.

“It was a night of long delays, wasn’t it? Let’s be honest. It was one of many long delays and they were trying to put him off taking the penalty but you have to rise above that and it was great for him that he managed to do that.”

Photo: TWTD

iaintaylorx added 22:42 - Apr 18 Every penny is well spent on Broady! What a player and what a team this is. Most exciting season we've endured in years. McKenna we all love you!! What a 3 points that is!! Two incredibly tough away games coming up now so that games feels even bigger!
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ArnieM added 22:44 - Apr 18 Strangely enough for me it didn't feel like a win! It was so nervy and bloody Plymouth getting a late winner took the shine off it somehow. Not sure what others feel, but I'm bloody relieved we got 3 pts!
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Bazza8564 added 22:54 - Apr 18 We ground it out, and thats a quality thats not always been evident this season. Flamboyant wins yes, narrow ones not so much. Delighted for the boys, now we go again, Peterborough away becomes a cup final
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OliveR16 added 23:01 - Apr 18 Surprisingly difficult but credit to Vale who were in a dire situation coming into this game. Our next two opponents won't be able to set up like that at home.
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dusth added 23:07 - Apr 18 In the Ramsey tonight, all the important stuff at the wrong end but huge character and persistence against a fairly desperate side falling like a stone who defended like their lives were on the line. May turn out to be one of the most important wins of the season. Come on you lovely Blues!
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Skip73 added 23:11 - Apr 18 Arnie I feel the same but I think that we are so used to big wins at the moment that 2-1 feels disappointing, which shows how far we've come.
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Umros added 23:38 - Apr 18 No credit to Vale! Boring negative dross as seen many times this season with the right outcome. I don't pay to watch the opposition take as long as humanly possible to do everthing or gamesmanship a penalty. Terrible advert for a team. Hopefully delayed in roadworks all the way back.
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churchmans added 00:40 - Apr 19 Playing in the championship next season or the season after will be easier for us as teams will actually come to PR and have a go meaning more open football and open,clinical football is our name! Another victory and Saturdays game in my opinion will be easier than playing against a parked bus like tonight!
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bobble added 01:24 - Apr 19 peterboro lose every 2.5 games we only lose 1 in 10 ......feeling very good now
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Suffolkboy added 02:36 - Apr 19 It's more than high time the PGMO decided upon strict action on time wasting ; and no defender has any rights whatsoever to interfer with the penalty spot ( why didn't the Ref card both Chaplin AND the Vale man ?) . KM again drew the right response from this apparently ever willing group of players, who do themselves and the ITFC shirt proud ! Excellent 3 points, hard earned . COYB

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BobbyBell added 06:59 - Apr 19 I thought the ref was weak. He didn't clamp down enough on the time wasting or the blatant attempts to disrupt the game whenever town started to get on a roll. Their keeper did enough to have had 4 or 5 yellows not one but the ref didn't want to send him off. I also felt that he didn't want to give the penalty but it was just too obvious not to give it.
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terryf added 08:12 - Apr 19 OK the first period of play PV played with intensity but once they scored the low block was as deep as can be. Coupled with time wasting throughout and some of our clear cut chances requiring more quality finishing it was very frustrating to watch. Thankfully Broadhead showed that quality and boy did we need it, particularly with the other two Teams winning away from home. I agree with Arnie bloody Plymouth scoring in the 96th minute!! We just have to get out of this division because so many in this division look to survival rather than playing a decent game of football.

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muhrensleftfoot added 08:12 - Apr 19 It was a massive victory. Port Vale were never going to play open attacking football. They would have been murdered like a few others have this season. Their tactics, whilst not pretty to watch, nearly got them a result. Fair play to them, but credit to us, who kept trying to break through the block, and finally got our rewards. Just as well, with Sheff Wed and Plymouth both winning tough looking away fixtures. We're not promoted yet. 2 very tough away games coming up, so certainly not breathing easily yet. COYB

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OldFart71 added 09:19 - Apr 19 I fully understand teams setting up to stop us rather than play open and like Coventry allowing us space to win as we did. But at the end of the day it is an entertainment business. Why do 25,000 plus turn up at PR every home game. Supporters have bemoaned the likes of McCarthy as a manager where entertainment comes second and a point even before a ball is kicked is deemed as something to behold. Americans have a totally different view of what a game day should be. It is an experience to be enjoyed. If it's a bit OTT then so be it. Given the success they demand will lead to better and better match days and so should it be. I have just come back from a visit to Disneyland, not just for kids, but a great day for adults also. Totally OTT, but who cares. So should a visit to PR be where kids are welcomed and adults feel like kids again.

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