Preview: Port Vale v Barrow

15 October 2021

We turn our attentions to the weekend action with a full and in-depth preview of The Bluebirds' League Two trip to Vale Park.

Port Vale v Barrow
Saturday 16^th October 2021, 3pm
Vale Park
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Port Vale have quickly emerged as one of the teams to watch in League Two this season after boss Darrell Clarke revamped The Valiants’ squad over the summer months.

There is clearly a big ambition at Vale Park to take the club back into League One for the first time since their relegation in 2017 and they have made an encouraging start to the new campaign.

After proving hard to beat during the opening month, Vale burst into life in September when four straight wins was enough to lift them into the promotion picture and land Clarke a Manager of the Month award.

Clarke’s men looked all set to chalk up a fifth successive league win when they led 3-2 in the closing stages at Sutton United last weekend, only to concede twice in the last three minutes and eventually lose 4-3.

They will no doubt be keen to respond to that heartache this weekend when they welcome a Barrow side who will know they can leapfrog their fourth-placed hosts with a victory at Vale Park.

One To Watch
Jamie Proctor has hit the ground running since signing for Port Vale during the summer and the front man already has six League Two goals to his name this term.

The 29-year-old has been on target in each of his last two outings so comes into Saturday’s meeting with Barrow very much in form and a player that Mark Cooper’s men will need to keep an eye on.

Proctor initially came through the ranks with Preston North End but has played for several clubs across the EFL since then and finished last season on loan at Wigan Athletic from Rotherham United before linking-up with Vale.

Head To Head
Saturday’s game will represent the 19^th competitive meeting between the two clubs over the years in a rivalry which resumed after a 50-year absence last term.

Both games during 2020/21 were won 2-0 by the away team, with goals from Scott Quigley and Patrick Brough doing the damage for The Bluebirds during the last trip to Vale Park on Boxing Day.

However, that was one of only three triumphs that Barrow have enjoyed over their Staffordshire opponents – with the only other wins over Vale coming way back in the 1937/38 campaign.

Referee
Andy Woolmer will take in his first Barrow fixture of the season on Saturday when he’s the man in the middle for our League Two trip to Port Vale.

The experienced official has been on the EFL list of referees since back in 2004 and has spent much of the current campaign operating across the Championship but he will be at Vale Park this weekend.

Woolmer’s last appointment was at the start of the month when he oversaw Lincoln City’s 2-2 draw with Plymouth Argyle in a League One meeting at Sincil Bank.

Tickets
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available to buy from The Dunes Hotel Stadium until 2pm on Friday, after which they will be available from Vale’s CASH-ONLY Ticket Kiosk on the day of the game.

Click here for all the information you need on tickets for the game.

Live Streaming
We are unable to live stream games on iFollow in the UK on Saturday afternoons, though Bluebirds fans outside of the country can still access live footage on iFollow.

Click here now to visit the Port Vale Match Centre.

Live Commentary
We will be providing live online audio commentary from every game this season as we continue our broadcast partnership with BBC Radio Cumbria.

Fans will be able to listen to expert Bluebirds commentator Adam Johnson, who will describe all the action as it unfolds during Saturday’s encounter at Vale Park.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow.

Betting
The bookies have made Port Vale big 19/20 favourites for three points this weekend, with a Barrow victory rated a 13/5 shot and the draw priced up at 12/5 with our friends at Sky Bet.

Click here now to take a look at a full list of markets ahead of Saturday’s game.

Match Reports

Vale End Bluebirds' Unbeaten Run

16 October 2021

A photograph of Port Vale players celebrating a goal against Barrow — Port Vale players celebrate a goal against Barrow

Barrow’s four-game unbeaten run in League Two was brought to an end by Port Vale on Saturday as The Valiants came from behind to take all three points at Vale Park.

It all looked pretty good for The Bluebirds at the break when the sides were separated by Ollie Banks’ unstoppable free kick but Darrell Clarke’s men came roaring back in the second half to run out 3-1 winners in the end.

The first half developed into a real tactical battle as both sides lined-up in similar formations but with Barrow happy to allow Port Vale to do most of the probing and then play on the break.

Vale showed their menace with a couple of early long throw-ins from former Bluebird Dan Jones but the Barrow defence – led superbly by Mark Ellis – dealt with the threat well.

Cooper’s men showed increasing confidence in possession too, continuing with the philosophy of passing out from the back and looking for a way through the host’s rear-guard.

One such attempt almost led to danger when Joe Grayson’s ball was intercepted by Vale skipper Tom Conlon, but he drove into the box before seeing his shot blocked.

Robbie Gotts did well to nick the ball in midfield and set Barrow off on the attack, but Jordan Stevens’ cross just didn’t find the head of Josh Gordon and Vale were able to get it clear.

The Bluebirds continued to pose a threat, particularly down the right where Remeao Hutton was linking up well with the attack – he could even have scored when Gordon sent a ball in from the right but Hutton couldn’t connect cleanly and home side survived.

However, Barrow did take the lead on 33 minutes when clever play from Gordon won a free kick 22 yards. Ollie Banks studied the angles before unleashing an unstoppable drive which was past Vale keeper Lucas Covolan before he’d had time to do anything about it.

Whilst Cooper’s men held on to the lead relatively comfortably until the break, Vale made two substitutions for the start of the second half and it reaped almost instant reward.

Dennis Politic received a pass into feed midway inside the Barrow half, took a beautiful first touch to set himself away on goal before rounding Paul Farman and firing Vale back on level terms just six minutes after the restart.

No sooner had the Vale fans stopped celebrating the leveller, than they saw they side go in front for the first time. A break down in communication allowed David Worrall to drive to the right byline unchallenged and, when he fizzed a low ball across goal, James Jones inadvertently turned it into his own net.

Paul Farman then had to remain alert to gather a swerving shot from Port Vale front man James Wilson following a neat turn on the edge of the penalty area.

Brought tried his luck with a speculative drive from long-range which was too high, before Conlon spurned a decent chance for Vale when he got on the end of a half-cleared corner only to screw a shot wide.

Barrow stuck to their principles and continued to press forward but they were caught on the break five minutes from time. Vale flew up the right wing before Worrall switched play with an intelligent pass into the feet of Mal Benning on the left of the area. He took a touch before lashing a powerful strike off the angle of cross bar and post, which then rebounded fortuitously straight back into his path, and he rolled it in to the net for 3-1.

Full Time: Port Vale 3 Barrow 1

Port Vale: Covolan, Gibbons (Martin 78), Jones, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson, Conlon, Proctor (Politic 46), Pett, Cass (Benning 46).
Subs not used: Walker, Taylor, Amoo, Stone.

Barrow: Farman, Hutton, J Jones, Ellis, Grayson (Williams 66), Brough, White, Gotts, Stevens (Kay 71), Banks (Zanzala 66), Gordon.
Subs not used: Lillis, Arthur, Taylor.

Booked: Banks.

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 5,951 (407 Barrow)

Ticket News

Bluebirds Back On Home Soil On Tuesday

18 October 2021

A photograph of Barrow fans celebrating a goal — Barrow fans celebrating at The Dunes Hotel Stadium

Mark Cooper’s men will look to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they welcome Scunthorpe United to The Dunes Hotel Stadium (7.45pm kick-off).

Tickets are on sale now for the big League Two clash with The Iron as The Bluebirds aim to shrug off Saturday’s defeat at Port Vale with a strong performance back on their own patch.

The biggest league crowd of the campaign gathered at The Dunes Hotel Stadium for our last outing – and now we’re looking for another bumper turnout to cheer the lads on against Scunthorpe.

Buying tickets for home games has never been easier because you can simply head online and purchase what you need – with the option to print tickets at home or simply display the QR code directly from your device at the turnstile.

Tickets will also be on sale direct from The Dunes Hotel Stadium or over the telephone, with fans able to make a saving if they buy in advance of matchday.

We’ll also be selling tickets from 5pm on the evening of the game, either in the Ticket Office close to Main Reception (card payment only) or from the Ticket Booth located in the Fan Zone (cash and card).

Click here now to buy your tickets for Tuesday night’s game.