Clinical Reds win 3-1 at Port Vale

Barnsley continued their fine recent form with a 3-1 win at Port Vale on Tuesday.

Luca Connell scored a stunning opener after 25 seconds then, after Vale levelled, Liam Kitching made it 2-1 to the Reds midway through the first half. Substitute Adam Phillips added another in the second half.

On a very poor pitch, Barnsley were not at their free-flowing best but – after a poor spell early on – looked comfortable and were clinical with goals from their first three shots on target.

It was a fourth win out of five games for Barnsley, who remain sixth in League One, three points clear in the play-off places.

Jon Russell made his first start, in place of the benched Phillips. James Norwood came in for the suspended Max Watters with Slobodan Tedic back on the bench.

The Reds made a perfect start as, after Jordan Williams’ cross was cleared following good work on the right by Devante Cole, Connell brilliantly found the top right corner from just outside the box. It was the midfielder’s second goal of the season after another long-range stunner at Peterborough.

The hosts responded very well and put Barnsley under a lot of pressure before levelling in the 14th minute. Aaron Donnelly's cross from the left was met at a tight angle at the back post by Ben Garrity who sent the ball across goal for Nathan Smith to turn in.

But the Reds retook the lead from their second attack of note. Herbie Kane ran up to take a free-kick on the left then stopped and Connell floated in a cross which was headed home by Kitching. The hosts appealed for offside but replays appeared to show Kitching was level with the last defender. It was his third goal of the season and second against Port Vale.

The Reds had scored from their only real attacks of the first quarter of the match in which they mainly defended, but were more comfortable after the second goal.

Cole headed over from a Kane cross and Nicky Cadden shot high from long range before Vale appealed for a penalty against Bobby Thomas for handball.

Phillips replaced Russell for the second half and scored just after the hour. After a long throw was cleared, the midfielder’s 25-yard strike deflected off a defender and looped in for his sixth goal of the season.

Phillips unleashed a shot from even further out minutes later but the powerful low strike was too close to the goalkeeper who held it.

Harry Isted made his first save of the night in the 71st minute, easily catching after Mads Andersen deflected a cross towards his own goal. Gavin Massey then blasted over from just outside the box.

Substitute Tedic tried an acrobatic bicycle kick from a long Williams pass but scuffed wide. At the other end, Ellis Harrison saw a goal ruled out for offside.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Isted, Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane, Connell, Russell (Phillips HT) Cadden; Cole (Shaw 74mins), Norwood (Tedic 74).

Unused: Searle, Martin, Cotter, Larkeche.

Yellow cards: Cadden, Phillips.

Goals: Connell 1, Kitching 21, Phillips 62.

Port Vale (4-3-3): Stone; Donnelly, Smith, Forrester, Benning (Harrison 67mins); Garrity, Conlon (Politic 62), Ojo; Massey, Worrall, Proctor (Taylor 62).

Unused: Stevens, Pett, Agyakwa, Robinson,.

Goals: Smith 14.