Barnsley 1-1 Port Vale match report – Stevens’ saves and Harrison’s header earn Vale an away point

Barnsley 1-1 Port Vale – a superb display by goalkeeper Jack Stevens and a late header from Ellis Harrison earned Vale an away point at Oakwell on Tuesday evening.

Manager Darrell Clarke brought in Dan Jones at left wingback while Dennis Politic was named on a strong Vale bench with play starting after a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Vale started strongly in the opening ten minutes with Odubeko having the first chance before the home side turned the screw. Vale struggled to come to terms with some crisp passing as the home side started to dominate.

Connell saw a long-range drive saved by Stevens who also saved from Devante Cole as well as handling multiple efforts from the Barnsley side in the opening half-hour. Vale’s chances were few and far between with Garrity heading wide and Odubeko played in by Harrison only to shoot wide.

The home side finally got the goal their dominance deserved on 42 minutes when a long ball was headed in by an unmarked Kitchen giving Stevens no chance. At the break, things were looking bleak for the Valiants who looked outclassed and more likely to ship more goals than score any,

Half-time: Barnsley 1-0 Port Vale

However, despite a strong start to the second period by the home side, Vale came back into the game when a triple substitution saw Gavin Massey, James Wilson and Lewis Cass introduced. Great footwork by Wilson set up Harrison but his shot was just wide.

Despite Vale’s better performance, they were still indebted to Stevens for keeping them in the game. There was a fantastic save on the hour mark and then Harrison headed just wide as Vale countered.

There was a booking for Barnsley sub Norwood who blatantly tried to block Dan Jones’ long throws as Vale pressed and the Valiants goal duly came on 82 minutes when Harrison headed home from Massey’s cross.

Nevertheless, the home side continued to have chances with Stevens making a spectacular save in added time while Ojo could even have snatched a winner moments later with his effort forcing a similar effort from the Barnsley stopper.

This was an excellent away point from the Valiants who looked a team transformed after the break. Arguably, Barnsley could and should have put the game out of sight in the first period but they didn’t and Harrison got due reward for missing two earlier chances with his third goal in Vale colours. However, it was loanee keeper Jack Stevens who had the biggest influence on this match with his best performance since joining the Vale.

Full-time: Barnsley 1-1 Port Vale