Port Vale vs Barnsley Prediction and Betting Tips | 4th January 2026

Football League One bottom dwellers Port Vale face Barnsley on Sunday with renewed vigor as the embattled side are coming off the back of a big win. Much to everyone's surprise, Port Vale began their 2026 with a stunning 5-1 demolition of Blackpool as the Valiants displayed unusual attacking flair.

By contrast, they had actually fallen behind in the game when Tom Bloxham fired the visitors ahead in the 27th minute but were handed a lifeline when James Husband was sent off for Blackpool in the added minutes of the opening stanza.

Port Vale returned from the break with a new sense of vigor and capitalized on their numerical advantage in the match with frightening precision in front of goal, netting five times to convincingly win the game.

It was just their fourth League One win of the season though, and the side remain last in the standings at 24th with 18 points from 23 games.

Barnsley have endured a rough patch of late, going their last four league matches without a win, even losing thrice in a row. Since beating Leyton Orient on 13 December, the Tykes lost consecutively to Exeter City, Mansfield Town and Lincoln City before salvaging a 1-1 stalemate with Wigan Athletic at the start of 2026.

Port Vale vs Barnsley Head-To-Head and Key Numbers

• The upcoming clash will be the 120th between these sides. In the previous 119 the spoils were closely shared, with Port Vale winning 49 times and Barnsley on 50.
• Port Vale and Barnsley have already met twice in the 2025-26 season, with the former winning on both occasions: 2-0 in League One and 5-0 in Football League Trophy.
• There hasn't been a draw between these sides in their last seven encounters.
• The Tykes are winless in their last four League One matches, losing three.

Port Vale vs Barnsley Prediction

Port Vale haven't won too many games this season, but they have got the better of Barnsley in both their meetings so far this season and come into the fixture on the back of a stunning victory in League One too - all of which hold them in good stead here with Barnsley going through a rough patch.

Prediction: Port Vale 2-1 Barnsley

Port Vale vs Barnsley Betting Tips

Tip 1 - Result: Port Vale to win

Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Over 2.5 goals

Tip 3 - Both teams to score: Yes

Edited by Peter P