**The points are shared at Vale Park as the Valiants and Barnsley play out a goalless draw.**
Both sides had decent chances in the game, but the best opportunity came with an hour played as the visitors were awarded a penalty. However, player of the match Joe Gauci denied Adam Phillips from the spot.
Jon Brady made four changes to his side that beat Rotherham last time out, with Connor Hall, Eli Campbell, Jayden Stockley and Ben Waine coming into the eleven for Kyle John, Croasdale, Martin Sherif and Ethon Archer.
The visitors got the game underway in Burslem, but it was Vale who had the best chance in the opening twenty minutes of the game. George Hall burst through the heart of the Barnsley defence before laying the ball into the path of Jayden Stockley. The striker's cross deflected to the edge of the box, where Jordan Gabriel was waiting, but the right back’s effort was well blocked by a defender.
The game's first shot on target followed shortly after and it went the way of Barnsley. Scott Banks cut inside from the left and got a shot away from just outside the penalty area, but it was straight into the grateful hands of Joe Gauci.
The Reds had a chance to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time. After some pinball around the Vale penalty area, the ball fell kindly to Vimal Yoganathan before the youngster got a shot away that whistled wide of the post.
The start of the second half was met by a downpour of rain at Vale Park and the Valiants came within inches of taking the lead. A low cross into the box from Liam Gordon was met by half-time substitute Dajaune Brown, but the striker's effort dipped over the bar and went behind for a goal kick.
Five minutes later, Vale had another good opportunity, this time through Rhys Walters. Following a cross from the right, the ball rolled perfectly to the edge of the box for Walters to hit, which he did; however, his low drive was well saved by Owen Goodman.
Barnsley were awarded a penalty on the hour mark after Vimal Yoganathan was deemed to have been fouled inside the area. Adam Phillips took the penalty but was denied by a superb save from Joe Gauci, who got down to his right!
Following a quiet spell in the game, the visitors had another chance of their own to find that elusive opening goal. A cross from Reyes Cleary towards the back post was met by Tom Bradshaw. However, Barnsley’s number nine could only find the Bycars Stand with his effort from close range.
With stoppage time well underway in Burslem, the Reds came mightily close to snatching all three points. Vimal Yoganathan’s headed effort deflected perfectly to Tom Bradshaw inside the six-yard box, and the striker got a toe to the ball, but there was Joe Gauci once again to deny Barnsley.
**Team News:**
**Port Vale:** Gauci, Hall, Gabriel, Garrity (C), Stockley (Brown 46’), Walters (Croasdale 87’), Gordon (Headley 87’), Waine (Sherif 70’), Humphreys, Campbell, Hall (Archer 87’)
**Unused subs:** Amos, Magloire
**Barnsley:** Goodman, Roberts, O’Keeffe, Phillips (C), Bradshaw, O’Connell, Banks (Connell 67’), Kelly, Bland (Cleary67’), Earl, Yoganathan
**Unused subs:** Flavell, Shepard, Ogbeta, Watson, Farrell