EBBW Vale coach Alex Codling admits he has gone through almost every emotion possible in the unlucky 13 weeks he has been in charge at Eugene Cross Park.

But the former England lock says he has nevertheless enjoyed an experience which will stand him in good stead in the remainder of his coaching career and remains convinced his team can escape the Welsh Premier Division relegation zone.

Almost as every week passes, Vale's position becomes more and more precarious, even more so this week.

Although only two Premier games were played last Saturday, the wins by Glamorgan Wanderers (over Aberavon) and Carmarthen Quins (over Cross Keys) pulled them away from the bottom trio.

And Cardiff's win at Maesteg on Wednesday actually sent Vale to the bottom of the table.

Codling said: "Although, in an ideal world, we wouldn't have wanted those results, I really don't spend too much time looking at other teams.

"I think you can get caught up in it too much, trying to work out configurations, who might win what.

"We all know that in this division if a team plays well on the day they are capable of beating anybody.

"It's still in our hands and as long as we do what I know we can do then as far as I'm concerned we will be all right.

"The difficult period was that seven or eight weeks with just the Neath fixture because it is hard to keep everyone focused in such circumstances.

"But the attitude and commitment of the players has been tremendous."

Nevertheless, it doesn't get any easier for Vale who on Saturday visit a Pontypridd side lying fourth in the table and who have lost only twice at home - to Llanelli and, on Wednesday, Bridgend.

"They are a good side, They are not fourth in the table by chance," said Codling. "They have a good blend of experience and youth and are very enthusiastic.

"But we are going there confident we can do something and get the result we need.

"I have probably come across pretty well every experience a coach could face in the last three months, but I've really enjoyed it.

"I'm happy as long as I get the commitment and enthusiasm from the players and after that difficult break, to come back and play as well as they have has been tremendous.

"I'm very proud of them as a group and I'm confident that if they keep working hard we will get out of our current predicament."

Vale will again be without lock Neil Edwards on Saturday, the club still awaiting the results of a scan on his neck problem.

But Jonathan Hawker has recovered from a knee injury and is expected to play.