Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth admitted his players looked tired from their week’s exertions following their frustrating 0-0 draw against Port Vale.

This was the Chairboys’ third game in eight days and the League Two promotion-chasers could not make it maximum points from the week in a game of few chances.

Fourth-placed Notts County will now have the chance to close the four-point gap between them and Wycombe when they face struggling Chesterfield on Sunday.

Ainsworth said: “If there was one team that deserved to win today it was Wycombe, but I have to give credit to Neil Aspin and Port Vale.

“They’ve come not to lose – obviously they’ve tried to attack but I thought we defended really well.

“The frustrations of not winning the game have probably clouded what actually happened in the game, we did create chances.

“We looked a little bit leggy, we looked like a team that had played on Wednesday in a big game and I think that fixture has just took its toll on the boys a little bit.

“It’s difficult, as a manager, if you change a winning team too much because of legs and it doesn’t go right you get slaughtered for changing a winning team.

“I’m pleased with some performances, but I thought we looked a bit tired and leggy, which isn’t us, but I can accept it because of the fixtures this week.”

Port Vale goalkeeper Ryan Boot had to be sharp either end of the break when he did enough to keep out headers from Adebayo Akinfenwa and Sido Jombati.

The closest the visitors, who have not won in 14 games, came to snatching the points was when Tyrone Barnett’s low effort from 25 yards was brilliantly kept out by Scott Brown.

Port Vale manager Neil Aspin said: “We knew we’d be tested and obviously Wycombe are a team who’ve been doing very well this season, so we knew we’d have to defend well from set-pieces and corners.

“We needed 11 players to work hard to get any type of result.

“Of course we’d like to be winning games, which we’re not at the moment, but you have to say that’s a point gained.

“Akinfenwa’s a test for our two centre halves – if your two centre halves get bullied then you’re going to lose the game because he’s obviously very vital to the way they play.

“He’s the focal point for them and you need to keep him quiet if you’ve got any chance of getting a result.

“The two centre halves got backed up by the goalkeeper, who made saves when he needed to, and the two full backs have done a good job as well.”