PORT Vale manager Neil Aspin says his side need to cut out their mistakes after watching his troops lose 3-2 to Swindon Town at the Energy Check County Ground.

Paul Mullin’s late goal clinched the win for the hosts, but the away team boss was less than impressed with the defensive frailties his men showed.

A double from Marc Richards saw David Flitcroft’s outfit take the lead away from Vale, who struck first through Michael Tonge.

However, Aspin, who made over 300 appearances as a player for the Valiants, said the Staffordshire side made two costly errors during the course of the game.

“We’ve had two away games and scored three goals which is not a bad return, yet we have conceded eight and I would have to say seven of those have been down to mistakes - another two today,” he told the club website.

“It was bad defending for their first goal and a mistake for the second one, but the third was very unfortunate and there’s not a lot you can do about that.

“We need to cut out those individual errors to give ourselves any chance, but I saw enough fight and determination to give me hope that we are going to get a result to turn things around.

“It was a big improvement from last week, but it would have been difficult for there not to be an improvement from that game.

“If you had watched the game today, you would say that there was nothing between the two sides even though you’ve got one pushing to get in the play-offs, and one fighting relegation.”

Despite the defeat, the 52-year-old was happy with the fighting spirit from his players as they look to end a bleak run of form.

“If you’ve got no fight and the players are just going to accept things, you are going to get relegated, it’s as simple as that.

“But after getting a real kick in the teeth with the second goal today, we got back on level terms and you didn’t know which way it was going to go in the second half - we were well in the game.

“At the moment we are just not getting a break, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves because we are making the mistakes that are costing us points.”