Port Vale boss Andy Crosby on Bolton Wanderers test

The Valiants have had plenty of joy since their 7-0 drubbing at Barnsley on the opening day and currently sit fourth in the table on 17 points from nine games.

Crosby knows it will not be easy against the Whites and says they are a “fantastic example” of creating an identity.

“We are trying to be competitive,” he told the club’s YouTube channel. “We spoke about it in pre-season, to be competitive in every single game we play whether it’s a league game, Carabao Cup or EFL Trophy.

“I think we have been competitive. We have rotated team selection - players have started some games and not been picked up for the next one.

“Bolton are a fantastic example of bringing in a manager and creating an identity. They are a lot further down the line than us in terms of what they are trying to do.

“They play really good football, have a really good manager and finished in the play-offs last season. I would imagine they will be looking to be even better than that this season.”

Vale enter the game on the back of a 2-1 win against Sutton in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Josh Thomas and Funso Ojo.

“Every time you get through to the next round, you want to get through to the next one,” Crosby added.

“It is a reward for lots of things - for Carol and Kevin (Shanahan) for investing the amount of money they do into the football club.

“It is brilliant for our supporters, who haven’t seen the club in the fourth round for a long time. They keep turning up and I thank them a lot for the support.

“I think we have to preach to them what we are trying to do. It might be different from what they have seen before.

“There may be some frustration at times with what we are trying to do, but we have to play a way that suits our team.

“That is going to take time, but when we get to utopia and we are playing incredible football with and without the ball, we are making progress.”