Port Vale will continue their League Two promotion push when they lock horns with Barrow in Tuesday’s contest at Vale Park.
The hosts are sitting just outside the top three on goal difference, while the visitors head into the midweek round of fixtures in 17th position.
Match preview
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After going four games without a win, Port Vale have taken maximum points from their last two games to get their promotion bid back on track.
The Valiants cruised to a 3-0 victory over MK Dons at Vale Park, before they recorded another home win in Saturday’s clash against Morecambe, with Ronan Curtis netting an 89th-minute winner to clinch a precious 1-0 victory.
With nine games to go, Port Vale are now sitting level on 64 points with third-placed Wimbledon, as they continue to dream of securing an immediate return to League One following last season’s relegation.
Port Vale will be looking forward to competing in a third consecutive home match, especially as they have won six of their last seven league matches at Vale Park, helping them put together a nine-game unbeaten home run in the third tier.
They have also kept clean sheets in four of their previous five home outings, perhaps demonstrating they currently boast the joint third-best defensive record in League Two with 37 goals conceded this term.
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Barrow currently occupy 17th position in the League Two standings after winning 12, drawing nine and losing 16 of their 37 league matches this season.
They may be operating in the bottom half of the table, but they are actually closer to the top seven than they are the bottom three, with 14 points separating them from the playoffs compared to the 15-point gap between themselves and the drop zone.
While they may only have league position to play for, Barrow will still be determined to pick up a positive result on Tuesday as they look to extend their four-game unbeaten run, which began with consecutive wins over Notts County and Accrington Stanley.
Andy Whing‘s side then fought back from two goals down to salvage a point against Morecambe, before they repeated the feat in Saturday’s away game against AFC Wimbledon, with Dean Campbell and Connor Mahoney scoring in the 88th and 96th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw.
They will now be aiming to beat Port Vale for the third time this season after recording two head-to-head victories in August, claiming a 3-2 win in the EFL Cup before running out 4-0 winners in the reverse league fixture.
Team News
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Port Vale boss Darren Moore will have to assess the fitness of defender Ben Heneghan and midfielder George Byers after the pair missed Saturday’s win over Morecambe with knocks.
Jaheim Headley remains sidelined with a muscle injury which has kept him out of action since scoring in a 3-3 draw against Swindon Town on February 8.
Forward Jayden Stockley is set to make a third consecutive start after returning from a short spell on the sidelines earlier this month.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without defender Theo Vassell, who has missed the last five matches through injury.
Defender Sam Barnes sat out the 2-2 draw with Wimbledon due to a knock, making him a doubt for Tuesday’s trip to Vale Park.
Campbell and Mahoney will be hoping to earn starting spots after coming off the bench to score late goals on Saturday.
Port Vale possible starting lineup:
Amos; Sang, Debrah, Hall; Clark, Croasdale, Walters, Kyle John; Tolaj, Curtis, Stockley
Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Foley, Canavan, Cameron; Jackson, Campbell, Gotts, Newby; Mahoney, Spence; Pressley
We say: Port Vale 2-1 Barrow
Port Vale will be aware they will face a tricky test against a Barrow side that have gone four games without defeat, but we believe the hosts will make full use of home advantage to continue their impressive form at Vale Park by claiming a seventh win in eight home league games.
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