Walsall manager Michael Flynn felt his side “more than matched” promotion-chasing Carlisle United.

And the Saddlers boss also joined Paul Simpson with some scathing comments about the officials in the 0-0 draw.

Mid-table Walsall have now won just one in their last 18 league games but Flynn insisted his team stood up well to the Blues.

Flynn said: “I thought with the windy conditions, it killed it a little bit for both teams, but I thought we were the better team up until the red card.

“Then, we knew what they’d do – pin us back, but it didn’t quite stay like that because we penned them in for a while. A couple of opportunities just wouldn’t come to us.

“But the boys have given everything and that’s why they got clapped off. The support got them through.

“And we’ve witnessed a very, very poor set of officials – or referee.”

The Saddlers boss felt ref Declan Bourne was poor for both sides, while he was frustrated to lose Hayden White to a red card for a challenge on Jack Armer on the hour mark.

“He couldn’t wait, the red card was out immediately,” the home boss said.

“We’re told in the referees’ meetings that they want to make sure, give them a bit of time to compose themselves, but the red card was out straight away.

“Even at the end he’s played nine minutes and six was up.

“He was so inconsistent for both teams all game. It’s frustrating. You don’t know what you’re gonna get.”

Flynn, though, said his injury-hit side deserved credit for the way they competed against Simpson’s high-fliers.

“We played a team who were in the top three before today and more than matched them,” he added in a club interview.

“We’re at such a sticky point at the minute, one of the fans next to us said we were going for a 0-0 – we weren’t. Jamille [Matt]’s not right, Conor [Wilkinson]’s coming back from long-term injury…it’s frustrating.

“There are reasons why we’re not at our best.

“Joe Riley was left [on the bench] because he’s played too many games in a short space of time.

“It wouldn’t quite drop for us in the box, but they stuck together and that’s all I can ask for.”