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AS IT HAPPENED
1:39pm
Good afternoon and welcome to the Chronicle’s live text coverage of Barnsley’s home game with Port Vale from 3pm.
1:48pm
Barnsley: Cooper; Watson, Shepherd, Earl, Ogbeta; Bland, Connell; Vickers, Phillips, McGoldrick; Keillor-Dunn. Subs: Flavell, Russell, de Gevigney, Rooney, Cleary, Farrugia, Yoganathan.
1:51pm
Port Vale: Gauci; Debrah, Humphreys, C Hall; Gabriel, Byers, Shipley, Garrity, Headley; Cole, Brown. Subs: Marosi, Heneghan, Curtis, Paton, Croasdale, G Hall, Faal.
1:56pm
The Reds are sixth in League One after taking 16 points from their first eight games of the season.
1:58pm
They lost in the 98th minute at Blackpool on Saturday then were beaten 6-0 at home to Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
2:01pm
The Reds have won three and drawn one of their four league games at Oakwell.
2:03pm
Vale are in 19th the table, with eight points from nine games.
2:11pm
After being promoted from League Two last season, they took only two points from their first seven games of this campaign in League One.
2:12pm
Following four straight defeats, they gained their first league victory of the season with a 2-0 win at Exeter City last week. They then scored a 95th-minute penalty to win 2-1 at home to Mansfield Town who had a man sent off on 14 minutes.
2:14pm
Vale also lost 2-0 at home to Premier League giants Arsenal on Wednesday, after making five changes, so they have a day less to prepare for Saturday’s game than the Reds.
2:20pm
Head coach Conor Hourihane told the Chronicle: “They make it tough for you, they don’t give away many goals or shots. It will be a game of fine margins again, no doubt. “When you get into their final third, they go into a back five and defend their goal. It will be difficult.”
2:20pm
He added: “They have had a couple of decent results in the last couple of games. “It’s fine margins, a late winner went in their favour at the weekend. “They had a decent display against Arsenal in the cup.”
2:22pm
Vale are managed by Darren Moore, the former Barnsley centre-back who appointed his old Oakwell team-mate Martin Devaney as assistant for this season.
2:24pm
Devaney left Oakwell in April as part of a coaching reshuffle under Hourihane, following almost two decades at the club as a player then coach. Hourihane played down the idea that Devaney would have insight into his team and said: “Every team you play against now, there is always a link or player or someone who knows you. “It’s part of the game. No matter who you come up against, everybody knows somebody in the team or there is some link somewhere.”
2:31pm
On Moore, Hourihane said: “I’ve met Darren a couple of times outside of football. “He lives very very close to me. “I have seen him out and about. “I’ve played against his teams loads. “He’s a lovely, lovely man.”
2:32pm
Port Vale also have Devante Cole who had two spells with the Reds, scoring 43 goals including a hat-trick the last time Vale played at Oakwell. Cole was a team-mate of Hourihane on loan in the 2014/15 season then returned for a three-year stint which ended last year when he moved to West Brom where he barely played before moving again to Vale this summer. He has scored three goals in as many league games so far.
2:37pm
Hourihane said: “I know Devante and he’s a very good player for the level. “He’ll be coming back and no doubt keen to nick another goal. “We have to be aware of his threat and he’ll be an important player for Port Vale.”
2:45pm
Another familiar face at the other end of the Vale team is likely to be goalkeeper Joe Gauci. The Australian international signed for the Reds on loan from Aston Villa in January and played seven times in an injury-plagued spell before being loaned out again for this season.
2:49pm
Vale are the team Barnsley have played against most in their history, with 117 meetings. The Reds have won 50 and lost 47.
2:50pm
Barnsley have won the last four, scoring 16 goals, with the most recent being a 3-1 success in Staffordshire in the FA Cup last season with goals by Marc Roberts, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Adam Phillips.
2:54pm
Vale lost 7-0 at Oakwell on the opening day of the 2023/24 season when, along with Cole’s hat-trick and an own goal, the scorers were Liam Kitching, Jon Russell and Andy Dallas.
3:00pm
GAME UNDERWAY
3:01pm
The teams swapped ends just before kickoff so Barnsley are shooting towards their fans this half
3:01pm
Devante Cole, who is being booed, is fouled by Shepherd and Vale have a free-kick about 35 yards out in a central position
3:02pm
2 Free-kick by Jordan Shipley. Straight to Cooper, very poor attempt at a cross
3:03pm
All Port Vale in these opening minutes. They win a throw on the right
3:03pm
3 Long throw hurled into the box and bounced but headed out by Watson and Connell blasts clear
3:05pm
Barnsley's first real venture forward ends in the game's first shot as Phillips hits a 30-yard strike over the bar
3:06pm
Cole fouls Vickers on the right wing and Barnsley have a decent free-kick opportunity. Looks like Vickers to take
3:07pm
7 Free-kick goes over everyone and is headed by Debrah at the back post across his goal and out for a corner on the right
3:07pm
8 Connell's corner from the right is headed wide by Earl who is unmarked a few yards out. Big chance
3:08pm
Now Cole nearly gets on the end of a ball into the box but Murphy Cooper just beats him to it
3:10pm
Good interplay on the left by Vale ends in Jaheim Headley's shot being tipped over by Cooper. That followed a one, two with Shipley
3:10pm
The right wing corner is headed well up in the air and out by a Vale man
3:12pm
Vale have been the better side so far. They win a free-kick on the right
3:13pm
It's not a bad free-kick from Shipley into a dangerous area but no one gets a touch and it goes past the left Barnsley post
3:14pm
Vale winning most loose balls and attacking a lot
3:15pm
Rare Reds attack but McGoldrick misplaces a pass to DKD
3:17pm
The last few minutes have been a bit more even
3:17pm
DKD finds McGoldrick on the left with a back heel then his cross is blocked behind for a corner
3:18pm
The corner is headed out then there is a bit of a scramble in the box with shouts for a penalty but nothing given
3:18pm
Much better last few minutes by Barnsley
3:18pm
Bland skips past a player and finds Ogbeta whose cross is hit well out of play
3:22pm
Coming up to the halfway point of the first half. Barnsley have settled a bit after a poor start. Pretty even
3:22pm
The Reds are starting to get on the ball more and pass a bit better. They haven't created chance from open play yet
3:23pm
Bland has a shot from distance blocked after a long period of Barnsley possession
3:24pm
McGoldrick bundled over in the box by a defender trying to get onto a DKD pass. I think they just bumped into each other after the ball had long gone
3:26pm
Barnsley having a lot of the ball now and playing some decent passes in the middle of the park but they don't currently look like opening up Vale's back five
3:27pm
Connell tries to chip a pass over the defence to McGoldrick but it's just too hard
3:28pm
Chance on the break for Vale., After good hold up play by Brown, Shipley gets his pass slightly wrong and Cooper gets there ahead of Jordan Gabriel to push it away
3:30pm
Half an hour gone and, overall, Vale have edged this
3:31pm
Decent move down the left ends in Ogbeta beating a man and cross into the box but it's booted out for a throw
3:33pm
A lot of pressure outside the box then Phillips burst into box but Debrah is too strong
3:33pm
There are then some appeals for a foul on McGoldrick in the box but waved away
3:34pm
Cole has a shot blocked at the other end outside the box
3:35pm
YELLOW CARD
Jordan Shipley the first name in the box after clearly pulling back Vickers near halfway
3:36pm
Good cross from the left by Connell but no one can get on the end of it
3:37pm
A good Phillips pass puts McGoldrick in on the right of the box and his low cross come shot is just out of DKD's reach
3:37pm
Good work again by Vale's Brown to turn into space but his attempted pass to a team mate running into the box is overhit
3:39pm
Back to Barnsley having a lot of the ball near the box but no end product. McGoldrick passes into the area but it's straight to ex-Red Joe Gauci in the visitors' goal
3:42pm
Into the 42nd minute now, Barnsley have had a lot of possession and control for the last 25 minutes or so without creating anything of note. They can't break Vale down at the moment
3:44pm
Ogbeta picked out on the left by a fine Connell pass but it's a great tackle on the edge of the box
3:44pm
Shepherd concedes a foul on Brown and it's a free-kick about 30 yards out
3:45pm
One added minute this half
3:46pm
45=1 Shipley's free-kick is headed back across goal and pushed out by Cooper who crashes into Earl. Barnsley are given a free-kick but I don't know what for
3:46pm
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0, Port Vale 0
4:03pm
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
4:04pm
Looks like McGoldrikc is up front with Keillor-Dunn on the left
4:06pm
McGoldrick put through by Connell on the right of the box but he shoots across goal and wide. A half chance
4:08pm
Now Keillor-Dunn's shot from outside the box is deflected wide for a corner on the left
4:09pm
Josh Earl tries to pass to Shepherd but puts it straight out of play
4:10pm
Ogbeta passes to McGoldrick on the left but his shot is caught by the goalkeeper
4:11pm
Cole pulled back by Earl who concedes a free-kick about 22 yards out on the right
4:11pm
54 Jordan Shipley's free-kick is blasted high and wide
4:13pm
It's very scrappy at the moment. Neither side keeping the ball for long
4:14pm
Vickers burst into the box after a nice one, two with DKD and just misses the left post from about 15 yards
4:17pm
Vale come close. Ogbeta leaves a cross from the right and Jordan Gabriel shoots from just inside the box but it's straight at Cooper who gathers
4:18pm
Shepherd tackles Cole in the box. Corner on the right
4:18pm
Corner headed out
4:19pm
An hour played and no shot on target for the Reds
4:20pm
Cooper in action again. He leaves a low cross from the right that he should claim then denies Brown from close range and again from the same player before Garrity blasts over
4:21pm
YELLOW CARD
Jono Bland booked for stopping an attack by Vale who are having a good spell
4:22pm
Barnsley have been poor in the last ten minutes or so
4:22pm
Double change coming for the Reds I think
4:23pm
GOAL!
Jordan Gabriel opens the scoring
4:24pm
Brown controls a pass on the left and whips in a low cross which is tapped in nearly on the line
4:25pm
Barnsley send on Neil Farrugia for Vickers and Reyes Cleary for Davis Keillor-Dunn
4:27pm
Barnsley have been really disappointing so far, can they rescue it with a good last 20 minutes?
4:27pm
Vale about to make a double change
4:28pm
George Hall and Ryan Croasdale being readied
4:28pm
Hall comes on for Brown and Croasdale for Shipley
4:30pm
Barnsley very flat at the moment. Vale's Garrity sees a cross deflected up and caught by Gauci
4:32pm
Barnsley have been abject in attack today. No shot on target and largely clueless in how to break down an obdurate defence
4:33pm
Cooper passes straight to Vale but Barnsley get back in numbers and it's blocked out for a throw on the right
4:34pm
Cole comes close to 2-0. After a long throw is flicked on, he touches the ball goalwards but Cooper catches
4:35pm
Jon Russell comes on for Jono Bland
4:37pm
Barnsley look desperate as centre-back Earl shoots well over from 25 yards
4:39pm
Gabriel bursts into the box and goes down next to Earl but the referee decides it was a dive
4:41pm
Phillips has a long-range shot easily blocked
4:42pm
Jordan Gabriel, possibly the man of the match, comes off for Ben Heneghan
4:43pm
Cole again comes close as Barnsley lose the ball but Cooper dives to his right to make a fine save
4:44pm
This has been very one-sided in the end and Vale should be two or three up
4:45pm
Farrugia crossed from the right and McGoldrick flicks it well wide
4:47pm
GOAL!
Ryan Croasdale nets from just outside the box
4:48pm
The lacklustre Reds lose the ball in midfield and Vale work it for the substitute to fire in impressively. Could be a lot more than 2-0 to be honest
4:48pm
Five added minutes
4:49pm
Cole comes off for Ronan Curtis
4:50pm
Farrugia wins a corner on the right
4:50pm
Corner headed out
4:51pm
Connell curls wide from distance
4:52pm
This game is just being played out. Barnsley don't look anything like getting back into it
4:53pm
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 0, Port Vale 2
