The festival football continues for The Vale as we host Barnsley on Boxing Day.
The Valiants come into the game looking to make it four league games unbeaten after picking up wins against Exeter and Wigan before dramatically drawing 1-1 at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Crosby’s comments:
Here’s what the gaffer had to say following our 1-1 draw at Adams Park:
“First of all, thank you to the fans who travelled down in difficult conditions two days before Christmas. I think it is a good point in the end. We came here having won our last two games, so it is seven points now from three games.”
“We found it difficult to get control in the first half because of the conditions, playing against the wind. They had us on the back foot, and we had to defend our box. It was good that we went in at half time at 0-0, changed things a little bit and went with the double six.”
“For the spirit, the togetherness and the courage with which the players kept going. We introduced young players from the bench and the energy they injected into the game.”
“It is brilliant after the time that James has been out that he came on and scored the equalising goal.”
The Opposition
Barnsley are in 7th place in Sky Bet League One. They have amassed 38 points so far this season which sees them just two points off the play-off spots.
The Tykes come into the game on a three-game unbeaten run. In their last outing they won 2-1 at home to Stevenage. Luther Wildin gave Stevenage an early lead when he found the net after just four minutes, but goals either side of half time from James McAtee and Herbie Kane earned all three points for Barnsley.
Former Vale loanee Neil Collins is in charge of the Tykes, he was appointed in the summer after Michael Duff left the football club to join Swansea City. This is the Scotsman’s second managerial role, he enjoyed a five spell in Florida where the managed Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Eastern Conference League.
Player to watch - Devante Cole
Cole is the third-highest scorer in League Two on 12 goals so far this season. Three of his 12 goals came on the opening day of the season when scored a 30-minute hat trick against the Vale at Oakwell.
Another player to keep an eye out for is Herbie Kane, he has 8 goal involvements so far this season. He has 4 assists and has also found the net 4 times this season.
Fixture Throwback
Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley, Saturday 20th September 2014.
Last time the Vale beat Barnsley in the league was in the 2014/15 when we, in fact, did the double over the Tykes.
The sides met at Vale Park in September 2014 and it was Vale who started the brightest. Winger Mark Marshall almost caught the Barnsley keeper off guard as his near post effort looked to be going in but Ross Turnbull readjusted and saved well. In the 24th minute, Vale took the lead when Michael O’Connor curled a free kick into the back of the net leaving Turnbull no chance in the Barnsley goal.
On the hour mark, the visitors had the chance to get back on level terms when Connor Hourihane was fouled in the box. The Irishman dusted himself down and dispatched the spot kick to bring his side level. Moments later, Vale had a penalty of their own when Jordan Slew was bought down in the area. The Vale striker stepped up and blazed his penalty over the crossbar, into the Bycars End.
With a draw looking likely, up stepped Mark Marshall. The Jamaican winger weaved his way into the box, beating three defenders before tucking into the bottom corner to earn his side all three points at Vale Park.