Adams pleased with Vale response

Port Vale manager Micky Adams was delighted his half-time pep talk helped his team to come from behind and beat Gillingham.

An early goal from Danny Kedwell, who headed in a cross from Amine Linganzi, had given the Gills the lead at the break. But Adams got the response he asked for in the second half as Chris Robertson headed a 47th-minute equaliser before substitute Tom Pope nodded in a winner after 63 minutes. Robertson made no mistake from close range after Carl Dickinson helped on a corner from Chris Lines and Dickinson also provided the assist for Pope's sixth goal of the campaign. Adams said: "I pointed out a few things at half-time and the players took everything I said to them on board. That is all you can ask for as a manager. "Gillingham has some success in the first-half by getting the ball into Danny Kedwell and we had to stop that and just up the tempo a bit when we had the ball. "The reaction of the boys was first class and we thoroughly deserved to win the game. The players showed great character to bounce back and I'm delighted. "In the end we overpowered them. We looked a really strong and very fit side and I felt we wore Gillingham down." Adams insisted the decision to leave leading scorer Pope on the bench for the second game on the bounce was not a major issue. He added: "Tom carries the hopes and aspirations of this club on his shoulders and giving him a bit of a break isn't a big deal. "He's been a regular in the team ever since I came back here and I'm delighted he came on and scored the winner."