Mike Williamson felt Carlisle United’s clean sheet and performance in general at Port Vale helped put their previous showing behind them.

A goalless draw was the Blues’ reward for a much tighter display than they had shown against Chesterfield the previous weekend.

United’s road to survival became more difficult despite holding the high-flying Valiants, with Swindon Town’s win over Grimsby Town increasing the Blues’ gap to third bottom to four points.

It left the Blues hoping their efforts at Vale Park can prove a platform for decisive improvement in terms of the goals and wins they will need to survive.

“Last week’s performance wasn’t good enough and we got punished,” Williamson told the News & Star.

“We’ve been working all week on being aggressive, being on the front foot, getting up the pitch and I thought the lads did that really well.”

Carlisle were denied an early goal when Luke Armstrong’s third-minute strike was ruled out by referee Ed Duckworth, who felt the striker fouled a Vale defender.

The recalled Armstrong was later denied by home keeper Connor Ripley from Carlisle’s next best chance.

At the other end Gabe Breeze saved well from Ethan Chislett, who later hit the crossbar direct from a corner.

United, who had been hit by illness and injuries in the build-up, were good value for their point even though they are now winless in five.

It is also one defeat in their last seven in all competitions.

“In terms of the opposition and conditions, there were two very, very difficult elements that we've had to battle,” said Williamson. “So I'm really, really pleased and proud.

• Port Vale 0-0 Carlisle United - as it happened!

“They [Port Vale] are favourites for promotion, second in the league, they've got very good quality on the pitch and we knew we'd have to be good out of possession.

“That's what the boys were. We limited their opportunities – again, with difficult circumstances, in terms of us having a virus going through the squad, and a lot of lads on the pitch who were struggling, but they found a way.”

Williamson was pleased with United’s start to the game and felt they may have been hard done by when Armstrong’s early goal was disallowed.

“It was just so early on, and away from home, it was probably the easier call [for the officials]. But they both had each other's shirts.

Luke Armstrong was penalised for his challenge on a defender in the build-up to a third-minute goal which was disallowed (Image: Richard Parkes)

“We started well and we created some good moments ourselves. I thought we were on top, but then [they showed] the quality they've got when the game is stretched.

“Gabe was there [with that save] and it’s another clean sheet, which I feel like everyone deserves credit for.

“I said at half-time that if there's going to be a goal to win this, it will be a ricochet, a bit of luck here or there, but when you watch it back there'll be people that have switched off or it'll be preventable.

“It was about making sure we were on that front foot.”

While United secured a sixth clean sheet of the season, it was also a failure to score in a league game for the seventh time and their return of 15 goals from 20 games is the joint worst in the division.

Williamson felt the windy conditions served to leave chances at a premium.

“I think the conditions dictated that there was going to be a lot of transition in the game,” he added.

“I think the [rate at which] you could see both teams turning the ball over, it's uncharacteristic.

“But I thought we were on the front foot, we were aggressive and we started with balls at source, which was good.”

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