The thumping 5-1 win over Blackpool was a welcome relief and a morale boosted but arguably Barnsley will prove to be a tougher test. Here’s our preview.
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Barnsley
- Date: Sunday, January 4th, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: Sky Sports in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
Will the win boost Vale confidence?
It’s still an incredibly tough task for Vale to move themselves clear of danger so fans will be desperately hoping that the win on New Year’s Day has boosted the side’s confidence.
More creativity?
Vale were struggling until that sending-off but also until caretaker Jamie Smith changed to a more creative formation. The switch to a 4-4-2 allowed Ronan Curtis and George Hall to provide service from the flanks and Smith may well be tempted to start the pair after their impressive displays off the bench.
Amos needs to add consistency
Ben Amos is currently holding the goalkeeper’s jersey but his performances in recent weeks have been in no way perfect. Loanee Joe Gauci is still a contender so Amos really needs to add some consistent performances if he is to make sure he keeps hold of the shirt.
Known injury list
Funso Ojo, Ben Garrity, Jordan Gabriel and Liam Gordon are all long-term injured.
Possible Vale line-up (4-4-2)
Amos – Clark, Heneghan, Humphreys, Johnson – G.Hall, Shipley, Byers, Curtis – Stockley, Cole
Ronan Curtis – could add creativity
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Barnsley
- Manager: Conor Hourihane
- Stadium: Oakwell stadium
Need to know
Meet the manager
34 year-old former midfielder Conor Hourihane is in his first managerial post. Appointed in March he has fourteen wins from forty games in charge.
Recent form
Poor. Barnsley are without a League win in the last four games.
Last match
Barnsley were reduced to ten men after the dismissal of Luca Connell but managed to draw 1-1 with Wigan on New Year’s Day.
Manager Conor Hourihane
Opposition history
Essentials
- Record goalscorer: Ernie Hine, 131
- Most appearances: Barry Murphy, 569
- Record transfer: £5m for Alfie Mawson, 2017
Over the years
Brief History
The club was founded in 1887 and since 1888 they have been based at the Oakwell stadium. They joined the Football League in 1898. They reached the FA Cup final, where they lost out to Newcastle United after a replay. In 1912, they reached the FA Cup final again, and defeated West Bromwich Albion 1–0 once again after a replay. They have also won the Football League Trophy in 2016.
Stadium
The stadium’s name, Oakwell, originates from the well and oak tree that were on the site when first built.
Trivia
There was a hugely controversial incident in 1920. Having finished the previous season’s Second Division in third place, Barnsley expected to achieve First Division status for the first time, but the Football League instead chose to call a ballot of the clubs. The League voted to promote sixth-placed Arsenal, for reasons of history over merit. Sir Henry Norris, the then Arsenal chairman, argued that Arsenal be promoted for their “long service to league football”, having been the first League club from the South of England. There were accusations of bribery and bias but nothing could be proved, so Barnsley missed out.
The Oakwell stadium
Archive
This site is thirty years old and has thousands of posts. Here are a couple to feature the opposition.
Head-to-head
How it stands
- Vale wins: 49
- Vale losses: 50
- Draws: 20
Previous games
Fixture history
The two sides first met in 1898 in Vale’s fifth season of League football. The opening game of the 1898-99 season, it ended in a 2-0 win for the Valiants. The return leg was a 2-1 loss. Vale’s Richard Evans scored in both ties while Jim Peake scored Vale’s first-ever goal against the Tykes.
Last time we met
It’s been two wins so far this season. The last encounter was a 5-0 Trophy win which saw Ben Waine score his first goal for the club. Vale also won in the League back in September when goals from Jordan Gabriel and Ryan Croasdale earned Vale a 2-0 away win in the League.
Ben Waine – scored his first Vale goal against Barnsley
Devante Cole in Barnsley colours
Played for both
Player connections
Port Vale deadline day signing Devante Cole will be returning to a club where he made over a hundred appearances and scored 40 goals over two spells. Vale goalkeeper Joe Gauci also had a loan spell with the Tykes, making seven appearances. As for Barnsley, striker David McGoldrick had a loan spell with the Valiants earlier in his career. Other players to appear for both in recent years include Vale loanee Kacper Łopata, midfielder Antony Kay and winger Chris Shuker.
Vintage connection
Striker Marc Richards served both clubs with distinction. He joined Barnsley in 2005 where he played in their 2006 play-off final win over Swansea City. After eighteen goals in 81 games, he joined Vale in 2007 after being signed by Martin Foyle. It proved to be a masterstroke as Richards was top-scorer for four seasons in a row and scored 75 times in 202 games.
Predict the score
Have your say
Discuss the game
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Join the debate:
The Vale Park stadium
Test your knowledge
Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz
Who is the current Barnsley manager?
What the score the last time we met?
Which Port Vale striker has previously played for Barnsley?
In what year did Barnsley join the Football League?
What the score the last time we met?
Which Port Vale striker has previously played for Barnsley?
In what year did Barnsley join the Football League?
(answers right – no cheating)
Answers
Quiz answers
Conor Hourihane
Port Vale 5-0 Barnsley (FLT)
Devante Cole
1898
Quiz ratings
Today’s theme is players to appear for both sides. How did you fare?
0/4 – Kacper Lopata
1/4 – Antony Kay
2/4 – Chris Shuker
3/4 – Devante Cole
4/4 – Marc Richards
We also need quality midfielders as a key priority, to take the strain off a defence that can appear slow and cumbersome at times. Unfortunately, we have too many players who are content to play pretty, low-risk three-yard passes, only to get caught in possession. Historically, we have always relied on big lads in defence to stop opposition forward lines. However, height and strength rarely come with agility, awareness, and the guile needed to read the game well. When teams in either the First or Second Division do manage to recruit such a defender, it is usually not long before they are snapped up by bigger clubs. Even Dan Burn at Newcastle can hardly be described as fast, yet as a central stopper he is highly effective and, when fit, is probably first choice for England.
Ben Heneghan has performed well recently in this role, and keeping him in that pivotal position around which the defence can rotate is clearly a positive move. Any future recruitment must be based on quality rather than simply filling a large squad quota. There was a time when only 11 players were allowed on the pitch, but like many clubs we have fallen foul of managers trying to emulate Premier League sides with bloated squads and big budgets. As a result, DM felt the need to keep everyone happy by playing them all, even though it has been clearly obvious to anyone watching that some are completely out of their depth.
I totally agree with the need to lighten the load, retain the few players who can genuinely cope with League One, and recruit at least one quick player who can deliver accurate crosses into the box for our two key strikers.
Great result against pool,stockley’s was outstanding,i will take a scruffy 1-0 win today,,and the news that darren ferguson is our next manager,thats a happy new year to me,