Port Vale forward Ruari Paton says their 5-0 win over Barnsley has to be the inspiration for getting out of trouble in League One.
Vale overwhelmed the Tykes in Tuesday’s last-32 tie in the Vertu Trophy, with Paton scoring twice in their biggest win of the season and first victory in a month.
After five defeats in six left them three points adrift of safety at the bottom in the league, Paton says it is not easy to put his finger on what was different about their goal-laden performance against Barnsley.
“It’s a hard question to answer – probably a bit more calmness,” he told BBC Radio Stoke.
“[In the] Last couple of weeks, you can sense a tentativeness or an anxiety to score because you’re thinking ‘oh we need a win’. The other night there was more composure on the ball.
“We’ve probably been forcing things in the last couple of weeks. We seemed a lot more on the front foot [against Barnsley] and much better with the ball.”
Paton felt things “just clicked” and there was “a lot to take” from their performance as they prepare for the FA Cup on Saturday.
“We came in and said ‘we need to be like that every week’. That’s our goal now,” the 25-year-old said. “This is the time to get momentum and there’s no better place to start than Tuesday night.”
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‘Leagues and levels go out the window. It’s chaos’
Paton is hoping his goals will enhance his chances of more regular game-time and says playing in a number 10 role – as he did against Barnsley – allows him the “freedom” to be creative and “affect the game a bit more”.
Ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup second round tie against Bristol Rovers, Paton is targeting more good memories after also scoring twice in their first round win over non-league Maldon & Tiptree.
“For me it’s cool [the FA Cup]. You don’t have to play in the World Cup final to say you’ve made it. You’re still playing in a competition that matters to someone,” he said.
“People want to go far in it – because the next round is when the bigger boys come in. The supporters want a brilliant away day and the club wants a cup run.
“Levels and leagues go out the window. It’s brilliant. It’s chaos. You don’t know who’s going to beat who. Even Maldon playing us, that’s a brilliant moment for them.
“I’d love to get a few more goals in the FA Cup. Your kids will look back and say ‘what did you play in and score in? and I can say I played in the FA Cup and played against Arsenal [in the Carabao Cup].
“I will cherish that stuff more than anything.”
