The Valiants return to Sky Bet League One action as they travel to Yorkshire to face Barnsley
Darren Moore’s side comes into Saturday’s game against Barnsley following back-to-back league wins and a historic night at Vale Park on Wednesday. Vale hosted Arsenal in the Carabao Cup third round in a game which saw the largest crowd at Vale Park in over twenty years.
Goals from Eze and Trossard helped the Gunners progress to round four, but Vale made them work for it and showed a spirited performance despite facing the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Rice.
Post Arsenal Thoughts
Darren Moore’s immediate reaction to the Arsenal game:
“First things first, I just want to thank all the supporters for coming out tonight. It was a proud moment for me as a manager to see Vale Park full and in full voice.
“I thought the players played valiantly tonight in terms of the courage and determination to go up against the elite football teams in the pyramid of football.
“The way the boys responded after that (Early goal) in terms of keeping the shape, the discipline, the focus, the work rate and the endeavour to stay in the game”.
Press Conference Takeaways
Here’s what defender Connor Hall had to say regarding Saturday’s clash:
“Regardless of past results, it’s a game at three o’clock on a Saturday and we’re going to go there and do all we can to make sure we try and win the game.”
The Gaffer also gave his thoughts regarding the Barnsley game:
“We’ve had a really busy week, but we’ve got a real exciting game to look forward to tomorrow.
“It’s an arena that I know really well and an arena that we should be looking forward to it. The mindset of the players is good, the morale in the camp is good, but also we take nothing for granted that we’re up against another fantastic team.”
Our Opponents
Barnsley is located in the South Yorkshire region and is well known for its industrial heritage, particularly in coal mining. The travelling Vale fans will have to make a 61-mile trip to Oakwell to watch their side on Saturday. The Reds have spent the last fifteen years between League One and the Championship, but have been stuck in League One since their relegation from the second tier in 2022. The northern club do have an FA Cup title to their name, winning the competition in 1912. They also won the EFL Trophy in 2016, beating Oxford United at Wembley.
Hourihane’s side have started the season well as they sit sixth in the league, picking up five wins out of their first eight games. Their only two defeats of the season have been away from home against Wimbledon and, more recently, Blackpool. Barnsley come into the game following a 6-0 defeat at home to Premier League side Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
The Opposition Dugout
Conor Hourihane is the man in charge at Barnsley. This is the Irishman’s first managerial role following his retirement from playing in 2024. He did have a short spell as Assistant Manager at Barnsley with former Vale boss Darrell Clarke, before taking the role himself when Clarke was sacked.
As mentioned, Conor retired from playing in 2024 after making 592 appearances for clubs across England. He made over 130 appearances for his current employer in his first spell at the club and played a big part in their EFL Trophy success in 2016.
Conor then moved to Aston Villa that same summer and went on to make over 150 appearances for them with 31 of these being in the Premier League. The former midfielder was also an Ireland international, achieving 36 caps and scoring one goal against Georgia.
Player to Watch
Davis Keillor-Dunn is certainly a player for Vale fans to be wary of. Last season Keillor-Dunn was Barnsley’s top scorer with an impressive eighteen goals.
Only Jay Stansfield and Charlie Kellman scored more in the last campaign. He has started this campaign in similar style, scoring five goals in his side's first eight games. The forward signed for Barnsley last summer following a successful spell at Mansfield Town.
Fixture Throwback
Barnsley 1-2 Port Vale, 14th November 2015
The last time the Valiants beat Barnsley at Oakwell was back in 2015 with Rob Page in charge. The Barnsley side featured England international Ivan Toney in their starting eleven and current manager Hourihane.
Vale took the lead five minutes before half-time as AJ Leitch-Smtih rose highest to nod a Michael O’Connor cross home. Page’s side made a lightning quick start to the second half and doubled their lead. Adam Yates laid the ball back to Sam Foley, who thumped the ball into the top corner in front of the traveling Valiants.
The hosts did grab a goal back shortly after through Sam Winnall, but Vale held on for the three points and finished 12th in League One that season.
