The Valiants are back in action on Saturday as we make the trip to Barrow for the second time this season.
Vale will be looking to maintain our unbeaten start to the league campaign after a win and a draw in our first two games.
Vale take on a Barrow team who we have already faced this season in the Carabao Cup. A much-changed Valiants side were beaten 3-2 at the SO Legal Stadium in a game where Ruari Paton and Tom Sang scored their first goals for the football club.
Gaffer's Thoughts:
Here’s what Darren Moore had to say about his side's start to the season:
“First and foremost, The fixture list can certainly throw up these bizarre situations where we play both Salford and Barrow twice within the first month of the season. I feel really fine with the way we’ve started the season; it feels good the way the boys are getting that level of understanding with each other.
"As the games have gone by, I feel there’s moments in us when we’ve been looking really strong, there’s also moments in us where we need to improve but overall, when I look at the start of the season to where we are now, I’m happy with the progress that we’ve made, but we know there’s a lot of hard work ahead of us.”
The Opposition
After two league games, Barrow sit in 14th position after a win and a loss. Their win came on opening day when they beat Crewe Alexandra 1-0. More recently, they were beaten by Cumbrian rivals, Carlisle United, who won 1-0 in a game where The Bluebirds had a goal disallowed in the 96th minute.
Last season, Barrow exceeded expectations and had a successful season by all accounts. The Bluebirds finished in 8th place, just one point outside the Play Offs. This was mainly down to their home form where they picked up 41 points in their games at the SO Legal Stadium. Only six teams picked up more points at their home ground in League Two.
Who’s in Charge – Stephen Clemence
The 46-year-old took charge of the Bluebirds in the summer following the departure of Pete Wild.
This is Clemence’s second managerial role. His first was with Gillingham where he was in the hot seat for 34 games during the 2023/24 season. He picked up 12 wins and 13 losses before eventually being relived of his duties in April 2024 with his side in 12th place in League Two.
Player to Watch – Theo Vassell
The former Vale defender joined The Bluebirds in the summer from Salford City and has enjoyed a positive start to life at the SO Legal Stadium. Vassell has played three games and in that time, he’s helped his side keep one clean sheet and also he scored the winning goal in Barrow’s opening day win against Crewe Alexandra.
Another player to keep an eye on is modern-day Port Vale legend David Worrall. “Wozza” made over 250 appearances for the Valiants over six seasons at Vale Park.
Kit Selection
At the request of the EFL and match official, The Valiants will be wearing our royal blue and gold third kit.
Fixture Throwback
Barrow 0-2 Port Vale, 02 April 2022.
The sides last met in a Sky Bet League Two fixture in 2022's "COVID season" and it was the Vale who picked up all three points thanks to a Tom Conlon brace including an emphatic effort from the half way line.
