BOSS Mark Cooper remains steadfast despite Forest Green’s fifth consecutive home defeat, insisting he feels no pressure and he can stop the rot.

Cooper’s side looked dead and buried as Port Vale led 3-0 until two late red cards put the game on ice with Forest Green captain Carl Winchester pulling a goal back from the penalty spot on 77 minutes and then planting a header home in the fifth-minute of added time.

Cooper insists he isn’t feeling the pressure despite discord on the terraces with even the club drummer appearing to have put his sticks down.

When asked if he feels under pressure, he reacted by saying "none" and insisted he has the managerial acumen to halt the slump which has seen Rovers win just two of their last 17 games.

He said: “It’s easy to play when you’re 3-0 down because there is no pressure. It can’t get any worse. People then start to step up and ask for the ball. We have to do that for 90 minutes. We’re conceding too many goals and not scoring enough.

“We started well, but every time the opposition come into our penalty area at the moment they score.

“The first time Port Vale put the ball into our box, they score with a free shot and that sucks the life out of you.

“When you look at the table you would say we’re play-off contenders, but we have to be better at both ends of the pitch.

“It’s now about being professional and taking responsibility.

“I can’t label a lack of effort or commitment, it’s just that people have to do their jobs.

“It’s easy to sulk when you’re losing games, but I want the players to stand up and be counted.”

Vale opened the scoring on 14 minutes. Joe Worrall’s corner dropped to Shaun Brisley, who rifled into the roof of Scott Logan’s net Vale made it 2-0 with eight minutes of the first-half to go. Rovers’ striker Matty Stevens passed the ball inadvertently to Worrall who picked out Pope who finished clinically.

Pope had appeared to have killed the game on 70 minutes, smashing home a penalty after Adams upended Mitchell Clark from behind.

Adams won a penalty back for Rovers on 77 minutes under a challenge from Luke Joyce and Winchester struck from the spot.

With Vale down to nine, Winchester struck again in the fifth-minute of injury time, glancing in and Elliott Frear cross.