Two minute guide to: Barnsley (A)
As Vale look to bounce back from the Crewe defeat, here’s our quick guide to their next game…
Port Vale
Manager: Rob Page
Last match: 0-1 vs Crewe
Form guide: L-W-L-W-L
Barnsley
Manager: Danny Wilson
Last match: 0-2 vs Milton Keynes
Form guide: L-L-W-L-L
Team news
All eyes on Tom Pope?
Tom Pope could be the centre of a lot of attention this weekend. Not only has the striker returned to fitness after a long spell out, but he is also linked with a move to opponents Barnsley. And with Louis Dodds and Achille Campion both out injured there’s even an outside chance of Pope starting, although it is more likely that Colin Daniel or Dany N’Guessan will be called upon.
Barnsley’s experienced duo Peter Ramage and Martin Cranie could both return to first-team action.
Here’s our guesswork starting eleven…
Neal
Yates – Duffy – Robertson – Dickinson (c)
Marshall – Brown – O’Connor – Daniel
N’Guessan – Williamson
Pre-match quote
“We’ve got to try and pick ourselves up and try and get a result at Barnsley…”
– Michael Brown
Last time we met
Mark Marshall: dramatic winner
Winger Mark Marshall scored an 89th minute winner as Vale defeated Barnsley 2-1 back in September.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 45
- Barnsley wins: 44
- Draws: 19
Trivia
Paynter: prolific against Barnsley
Vale are unbeaten against the Tykes in the last three seasons.
Billy Paynter (above) enjoyed a prolific time against Barnsley. The striker was on the mark four times in six appearances.
They played for both…
Dickinson: faces a former club
Vale skipper Carl Dickinson spent a spell at loan at Barnsley back in 2009-2010
There have been a number of other players to appear for both sides including:
Collins: was sold when Vale plunged into financial trouble
- Defender Lee Collins (above)
- Midfielder Sam Togwell
- Striker Marc Richards
- Winger Chris Shuker
- Defender Rob Kozluk
- Midfielder Robin van der Laan
- Midfielder Sean McClare
Brown will be the ‘boo’ boy…
Veteran midfielder Michael Brown will incur the wrath of Barnsley fans should he play on Saturday. Not only did Brown play for hated rivals Leeds United, but he was also involved in an unsavoury incident in 2012.
The Barnsley fans’ dislike of Brown centres on a tackle on Jacob Butterfield during Barnsley’s 4-1 New Year’s Day win over Leeds.
The tackle, which ruled Butterfield out for the season was labelled as malicious by the injured Tykes midfielder although he did add that Brown had contacted him to apologise.