Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley
Mark Marshall scored an excellent late goal as Rob Page’s reign began with a 2-1 home win over Barnsley.
Page, taking over from the departed Micky Adams, made four changes and Vale took a deserved early lead when Michael O’Connor netted from a free-kick on 24 minutes.
Vale were much improved on their recent performances with Marshall and Dodds both impressive. Dodds had a chance cleared off the line and that was to prove costly as the visitors equalised on the hour mark. O’Connor fouled in the box and Connor O’Hourihane netted past Chris Neal.
The Valiants then had a chance to re-take their lead when Slew was fouled in the area. But Slew blazed the penalty over.
It looked like Vale’s luck was out when the impressive Marshall was denied by a fine save from Turnbull.
But it didn’t matter as Marshall finished off a fine run to put Vale 2-1 ahead in the closing minutes. It was a fine way to end their losing streak and promised brighter times under Rob Page’s management.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Duffy, McGivern, Dickinson, Dodds (Moore), Lines, O’Connor (Brown), Marshall, Slew (Williamson), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Robertson, Jennings, Daniel
Attendance: 5,415 (830 away)