Frustrated Conor Hourihane feels Barnsley should have won at Port Vale

Frustrated Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane felt his side should have come away with all three points after a goalless draw at Port Vale.

The Tykes had the better chances at Vale Park and were thwarted by former stopper Joe Gauci, who kept out Adam Phillips’ second-half penalty.

He also denied a Tom Bradshaw header with a great save in stoppage time to ensure the relegation-threatened Vale lifted themselves off the bottom of the League One table.

Asked if his side should have won it, Hourihane said: “Absolutely, yeah. There was only one team who looked like winning it.

“We limited them to very little. I don’t think people watching would have seen anything other than us being the stronger team and ultimately should have won it.

“There are moments in games, we haven’t had a penalty in a long time. I fancy Phillo to score that every single day of the week.

“He’s been very good the last couple of games. He’s led by example.

“I thought the lads were brilliant and they have been for two games against Rotherham and Port Vale. Everyone thinks you should turn up and win against these teams with the position they’re in but it’s not the case whatsoever. They are fighting for their lives.

“It should have been six points, but it wasn’t to be.

“It’s a first clean sheet in four months. It’s pleasing for the lads who have been relentless at the back, but I would have preferred to win 2-1 and all three points if I’m honest.”

Vale are still yet to be mathematically relegated and are 15 points shy of safety with six games left.

Boss Jon Brady reflected: “A bit of composure, a bit of quality on deliveries just wasn’t there.

“If you don’t score goals, then you’re not going to win games.

“Old habits have started to creep back in. We need a pre-season, we need work. We need to reset and evaluate to set a team up that can be competitive next year.

“Joe Gauci comes out, he’s aggressive. He comes off his line for corners and catches and there aren’t many keepers who are better than him at doing that.

“He’s been the best of the three in my opinion and that’s why he’s played. He’s made an unbelievable penalty save, brilliant. Fair play to him. He showed great character after the Chelsea game where we conceded seven. He came back and kept a clean sheet then.

“Defensively it’s been really good since we’ve been here, but offensively is where we lack the quality to penetrate the opposition.

“But what we do have is a good foundation to go into next year off the back of the clean sheets we’ve been getting.

“We need to improve on the frontline. We need to recruit better. That’s the bottom line.”