Barrow v Port Vale preview – can Valiants continue their push for promotion?
Barrow v Port Vale preview – the Valiants will be hoping to vanquish strugglers Barrow and boost their promotion hopes. Who will prevail? Here’s our preview…
Match details
Details:
Barrow v Port Vale
League Two
Holker Street
Saturday April 2nd, 2022, 3pm
Last time we met?
The nineteenth meeting between the two sides took place in October and ended in a 3-1 win for the Valiants. The goalscorers were Dennis Politic, an own-goal and Mal Benning.
Overall record:
11 Vale wins, 5 draws and 3 defeats.
Valiants team news
The Valiants will be hoping that captain Tom Pett will be fit to feature after he limped off early during the 2-0 home win over Sutton United. Vale are a little stretched in central midfield so if Pett is unfit, Brad Walker is likely to play with Aaron Martin coming into the defence.
Defenders Dan Jones and James Gibbons are both reported to be nearing full fitness which will offer in-form Vale a further boost. However, the Valiants are still expected to be without captain Tom Conlon, Jake Taylor and goalkeeper Lucas Covolan.
Bin the boos – back the boys
OVF recently published this appeal for supporters to get behind the team as the Valiants approach the crucial final stages of the season.
Opposition team news
Influential midfielder Josh Kay is close to a return after making the bench for the game against Leyton Orient.
Man in charge: Phil Brown
- Age: 62
- Games in charge: 1
- Win ratio: 0%
The former Bolton and Southend manager was appointed last week to replace Mark Cooper.
Recent form…
Port Vale
It’s now five games unbeaten for the Valiants after the comfortable 2-0 home win over Sutton Utd.
Form (all competitions):
Top scorer (all competitions):
Garrity, Wilson (11)
The opposition
Barrow are in a poor run of form having won just once in their last ten games.
Form (all competitions) :
Top scorer (all competitions):
Banks (12)
Current connections
Port Vale defender Dan Jones spent two years as a Barrow player making 78 appearances and scoring four times. His form earned him a move to Salford City in 2019 and he joined the Valiants in the summer. However, Jones is unlikely to feature due to injury.
Other players to appear for both sides in recent seasons include strikers Scott Quigley, Dior Angus and Richie Bennett as well as midfielder Lewis Hardcastle.
Vintage connection
Goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson was signed from Barrow in 2021. He made 81 appearances during a two year spell before he left after rejecting a new contract. He later appeared for Burton and also rather bizarrely had a spell as a professional wrestler. Tomlinson made 23 appearances for Barrow before his move to Burslem.
He finished his playing career in 2017 after making 167 appearances for five sides.
Potted history
Founded in 1901, Barrow have played at Holker Street since 1909. Their first spell in the Football League lasted from 1921 until 1972. They rejoined in 2020 after finishing as the National League Champions.
They have won one promotion as a League club as well as winning the FA Trophy twice.
Were you paying attention?
Here’s a quick quiz on the opponents:
- What was the score the last time the two sides met?
- Who is the current Barrow manager?
- When were Barrow formed?
- Which current Port Vale defender also played for Barrow?
Quiz answers (no cheating):
- Port Vale 3-1 Barrow
- Phil Brown
- 1901
- Dan Jones