An early goal by captain Conor Hourihane secured Barnsley a 1-0 win at Port Vale on Easter Monday.

The home side had the most of the play and the chances but the Reds' third successive clean sheet kept them seventh in League One, just outside the play-off places because Bradford also won.

Paul Heckingbottom made one change to the side that drew 0-0 at home to Scunthorpe three days earlier. Ashley Fletcher returned from international duty with England under 20s to partner Ivan Toney up from as Harry Chapman dropped to the bench.

Barnsley took the lead in the ninth minute when Hourihane's free-kick from the left wing went all the way in at the far post. The free-kick had been awarded several minutes earlier but there was a lengthy delay after an off-the-ball clash between Toney and Richard Duffy then the set piece surprisingly had to be re-taken as the referee did not seem to be looking when Hourihane originally took it.

Vale had the better of the remainder of the first half. Louis Dodds fired wide from the edge of the box within seconds of the opening goal then Ajay Leitch-Smith forced Adam Davies into an excellent save – diving low to his left – before the same player could not test the Barnsley goalkeeper when he went clean through on goal but failed to get a meaningful touch on the ball.

Adam Hammill fired just wide for the Reds early in the second half then Sam Foley fired over for Vale from close range when he really should have scored.

Home centre-back Duffy also missed a golden chance, flicking the ball just wide from a low cross with five minutes to play.

Ex-Red Carl Dickinson blazed over in the 89th minute after Davies dropped a cross with Dodds also going close seconds later.