It’s a return to the road for Vale this Tuesday, as they travel north to South Yorkshire to face Barnsley at Oakwell.
The last time the Valiants played the role of the visitors they came away with a 2-0 win against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium back on the 20th August.
However, last time out in Sky Bet League One, Vale had to settle for just a point when a late Cheltenham Town goal last Saturday meant the Robins came away with a 2-2 draw.
Barnsley enjoyed a brilliant result last time out, beating Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough.
It has been a mixed start for the Reds, but their latest result should give them confidence, whilst the Valiants will be hoping for another win on the road.
In today’s read, we take a look at Tuesday’s hosts, and what we can expect from them.
ONE TO WATCH: Mads Anderson
The Reds captain is the one to keep an eye out for on Tuesday night, with the Danish centre-back now in his fourth season in South Yorkshire.
The 24-year-old started his career in his home country of Denmark, where he spent most of his early career at Brøndby.
After graduating from the Danish giant’s academy, he struggled to get into the first team, so moved to AC Horsens in 2017.
After two years playing in the Danish Superliga with Horsens, Anderson moved to the North of England where he signed for Barnsley.
Anderson had a mixed first season for the Reds, but the six-foot-five defender kicked on in 2020/21, becoming an integral part of the Barnsley side that reached the Championship play-offs.
The following season was a tough one for both Anderson and the football club as they got relegated down to Sky Bet League One, but on a positive note for the defender, he did take over captaincy last campaign.
THE MAN AT THE HELM: Michael Duff
The new man in the dugout for the Reds this campaign is Michael Duff, who moved from our last opponents, Cheltenham Town, to South Yorkshire in the summer.
Before his career in coaching, Duff made over 600 appearances in senior football as a centre-back, spending eight years at Cheltenham Town, and 12 years at Burnley.
Duff was a major part of three promotions to the Premier League in his playing days at Burnley, becoming the first player after Neil Clement to do so with the same club.
After his third and final promotion with the Clarets, Duff hung up his boots to pursue a career in coaching and was appointed Cheltenham manager in 2018.
The 44-year-old was at the helm of the Robins when they achieved promotion to Sky Bet League One in 2021, which was their first ever automatic promotion as they won the league.
Last Campaign the Northern Irishman led his former side to their highest-ever league finish, as the Robins placed 15th in the third tier.
His impressive achievements in Gloucestershire caught the eye of the Tykes, and on 15th June 2022, Duff made the switch to join Barnsley, where he has had a mixed start.
STADIUM: Oakwell
Barnsley have played their football at Oakwell since 1887, with the stadium having a capacity of just over 23,000 after renovations in the 1990s.
Oakwell is famous for being the first stadium in English football to have a designated stand for disabled supporters.
The North Stand is where you Valiants' will be situated, as it is normally reserved for away supporters.
HEAD-TO-HEAD LAST FIVE:
Vale wins: 2
Draws: 1
Barnsley wins: 2
The head-to-head between these two sides have been tight in the last five matches, with both teams winning two apiece.
History shows this should be a tight encounter, with all the wins from both sides in the last five being by a single goal, including Vale’s last visit to Oakwell which ended in a 2-1 victory for the Valiants.