Vale's away defeat to Coventry City on Saturday was a slender one, but Michael Brown knows that his side need to start finding the net if they are to turn their fortunes around.

A first-half strike from Jodi Jones was enough to seal the points for the Sky Blues, although the Valiants did have chances to earn a result.

Antony Kay struck the crossbar towards the end of the first half before the post came to Coventry's rescue. Tom Pope also saw an effort saved at the death and the points escaped Vale.

"We had chances, but we have got to score and not concede at the other end," said Brown.

"It was a wonderful strike, but if you give someone that much space and time they are going to do that.

"That was the disappointment, when he got into that pocket we didn't close the ball and he had the time to come inside and produce a great finish."

On a mixed day with regards to injuries, Tyrone Barnett returned to play an hour, but Rob Lainton was forced off after suffering a blow to his ankle.

On the impact of Barnett, Brown said: "It was great to have him back. You can still see that he is finding his feet and I thought the two strikers could have done better, especially when they are two for two against the centre-halves.

"We decided to move them around a bit in the second half and I felt we impacted on the game more as a result, but that piece of skill in the first half has outdone us.

"As for Rob [Lainton], it's just unbelievable, I feel for the boy first and foremost. He's in a cast now and it's very disappointing for him as a football player that he's now got to go through that rehabilitation again."

The Valiants face a trip to LutonTown on Tuesday night and the manager will be hoping that his team can travel back from Kenilworth Road with a positive result.

"It's a tough game, but we are looking forward to it and we believe we can get something," said Brown.

He added: "Every game we go in believing we can get something and we have certainly been in the matches so far. On Tuesday, I will just look at the result and that's no different to any week."