Vale could have nicked it late on, but will settle for a single point

Micky Adams was pleased with the point at Underhill, admitting that the league leaders were fortunate to go in at the break with the scores still level.

The Vale boss said: “It was a good point on that performance. Barnet were excellent, and better than us today.

“We didn’t have our usual spark, Having said that we could have nicked the game towards the end, but when you consider our better players were all defenders, it says a lot.

“We never got to grips with Barnet or their system and we were very lucky at half-time to go in 0-0.

“We give them too much time and respect on the ball, but we played better in the second half when we got closer to them.

“Edgar Davids looked as though he was running the show at one stage, him and John Oster. You can’t give any time on the ball, whether its Davids or any other player at this level - if you do they can hurt you.

Adams accepts that teams are not going to make it easy for the Vale. They are up there to be shot out between now and the end of the season.

He said: “We’re not going to have it easy. People aren’t going to lay on their backs and let us tickle their bellies, that’s not what happens at this level.

“Barnet went up to Rotherham and beat them and we were under no illusions that we were in for a difficult game..

“Whether the fans thought it would be an easy game or not, we were under no illusions that it was going to be anything but an easy game.”