Vertu Trophy action returns to Vale Park as the Valiants welcome Barnsley to ST6 on Tuesday evening in the Round of 32.
After finishing first in their Vertu Trophy group, Port Vale were guaranteed a home draw, in which they were matched against Yorkshire side Barnsley. This is the second time Vale have faced Barnsley this season, coming out 2-0 victors at Oakwell.
The Vale come in Tuesday’s clash following a 1-0 defeat away at Lincoln City, where a first-half goal made all the difference.
Post Lincoln Thoughts
Here is the gaffer's reaction to Saturday's result:
“There wasn’t much in both teams today; it was a really close-fought game, and the one decisive moment in the game, they got it.”
Our Opponents
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. They did reach the League One Play Off final in 2023, but went on to lose in the final to Sheffield Wednesday. The northern club won this competition in 2016, beating Oxford United at Wembley.
Barnsley currently sit in 10th position in League One, just three points outside the play-off spots. They finished second in their Vertu Trophy group despite only winning one of their three games, which came against Manchester United U21s. They come into this Round of 16 clash on Tuesday off the back of a 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Stockport County.
The Opposition Dugout
Conor Hourihane is the man in charge at Barnsley. This is the thirty-four-year-old'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.
Since being appointed on a permanent basis, Hourihane has won thirteen of his thirty-two matches with a win percentage of 41%. His biggest of these wins came recently as he led his side to a 5-0 stuffing of Luton Town.
Player to Watch
Defensive midfielder Luca Connell is a player for Vale fans to keep an eye out for on Tuesday. Luca is Barnsley’s highest-performing player so far this season and has played a key role in their start to the season.
He has scored two goals and achieved two assists from his deep role whilst also creating 86% of his side's chances this season. Connell is no stranger to silverware as he was a member of Celtic's treble-winning squad in 2020.
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley, 20th September 2014
The last time Vale defeated Barnsley at Vale Park in the league was in 2014, when goals from Michael O’Connor and Mark Marshall secured all three points.
Vale took the lead in magnificent fashion as O’Connor curled in a wonderful free kick into the top left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance at all.
The visitors were awarded a penalty just shy of the hour mark after O’Connor was deemed to have been too physical in the penalty area. Current manager Hourihane converted the penalty in the bottom corner with some help from the inside of the post.
The winner came one minute before the clock ticked to ninety. Mark Marshall took on three players inside the area before slotting home into the bottom corner to win Vale the match.
