Micky Adams defended John McCombe after a tackle from the Port Vale captain left Northampton’s Alex Nicholls with a broken leg.
“All my thoughts are with Alex Nicholls at the moment and everyone connected with Port Vale wishes Alex a speedy recovery,” said Valiants boss Adams.
“But I’ve just seen the tackle and it’s a genuine attempt by John McCombe to win the ball and it’s an unfortunate accident.
“John is distraught about it. He is as honest as the day is long and it was genuine attempt to clear the ball after Robert Taylor has put Chris Neal in trouble with the back pass.”
The game was delayed by 12 minutes while Nicholls received lengthy treatment in the six yard box in front of the Vale fans, a minority of whom could, disappointingly, be heard abusing the forward before he was taken to Northampton General Hospital in an ambulance which was allowed on the pitch.
Nicholls suffered a double compound fracture of his left leg, breaking both his fibula and tibia, and is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
It is a similar injury to that suffered by former Arsenal striker Eduardo
 |  |