Ian Evatt described himself as ‘super-proud’ as Wanderers extended their unbeaten start to the season in what the manager feels could be a defining moment for his team.
Wanderers battled for almost an hour with 10 men following the controversial dismissal of captain Ricardo Almeida Santos.
Evatt was then sent off at half-time and the Whites plan to make their feelings known in reports to the relevant authorities.
But the Whites stood firm to keep Port Vale out – as well as having chances of their own to win it – as a defiant 0-0 draw made it four games without defeat to start the campaign and 12 in total stretching back to last season.
“I’d rather just speak about the game,” said Evatt.
“There’s a lot that’s happened and I’m quite emotional about it. But I’m super proud of the team and the players.
“To perform the way they did with 10 men for almost an hour in this heat is absolutely outstanding.
“We rode our luck once or twice in the second half.
“Traff’s made one outstanding save but other than that I though defensively we looked calm, composed and solid and had some real good moments in the counter-attack and on transition.
“It speaks volumes that their keeper has got man of the match.”
Wanderers might have gone in front from an Amadou Bakayoko header in the first half which some pictures suggest had crossed the line.
Santos – who will now miss next Tuesday night’s visit of Morecambe – then received a second yellow card despite not appearing to catch Vale striker Ellis Harrison as he went to ground.
But Wanderers got over the body blow of losing a key defender to re-group and secure another valuable point in a performance that Evatt believes speaks volumes for his squad.
The Whites’ boss added: “We are a good football team. We are open, we are expansive, we’re attacking and we cause teams problems.
“But I’m more proud of that today than I was against Salford on Tuesday or Wycombe last Saturday because when you’re that type of team you get labelled a soft touch and you get labelled soft and flaky and with a soft underbelly.
“This team hasn’t got that and we’ve proved that today. Last season there were occasions in difficult moments that we’ve had today we went under a little bit and let ourselves down.
“There was none of that today and if this team shows that fight this season we’re in for good ride.
“We rolled our sleeves up and we fought for every single fan that made the journey today and they were absolutely outstanding.
“I’m disappointed because I think with 11 men on the pitch we win the game comfortably.
“But these things happen in football seasons. Sometimes you can feel like the world’s against you.
“We certainly do today but it’s how you react in those situations which will define us and I thought this game can really be a defining and pivotal moment for us moving forwards.”