Michael O’Connor felt Port Vale were more than a match for Walsall on Sunday and was disappointed to come away empty handed.

The midfielder played the full 90 minutes as the Valiants battled well at Banks’s Stadium but ultimately came away with no points.

The game, which was live on Sky Sports 2, was settled by a Jordan Cook brace in the second half.

Speaking to the press after the match, O’Connor felt Vale stood toe to toe with the Saddlers for the majority of the contest.

“I think the league this year is anyone’s. The teams we’ve played at the top – Burton away from home I thought we had a chance there.

“Then today against Walsall I thought we more than matched them for 65 or 70 minutes but we need to take our chances when they come and we didn’t today.”

Rob Page’s side had the ball in the net from a set piece early on but Richard Duffy was flagged offside.

O’Connor provided the assist for that disallowed goal and was on hand to create numerous chances from free kicks and corners throughout the match.

“We had a few chances from set pieces,” he said. “I think we were a bit deep at times first half but our shape was very good.

“At half time Pagey said these are there for the taking, if we just push up a couple of yards we’ll have more chances.

“The first 15 minutes of the second half we did that and then they got the goal, Granty slipped unfortunately and then I thought we didn’t kick on.”

Boxing Day sees the Valiants head to high-flying Coventry City, who currently sit fourth in the Sky Bet League One table under Tony Mowbray.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” O’Connor commented. “I think Coventry will be up there come the end of the season but we need to beat teams like this if we want to be in the play-offs this year.

“So it’s going to be a tough game but we went there last year and got a good win so hopefully we can do that again.”