Barrow v Gateshead

[Big E]

two soft goals after a bright 1st half, the goal before HT changed the game. Gateshead after that set up with pretty much 8 men behind the ball and sat deep and asked us to break them down, which apart from a little flurry at the end we failed to do.

A learning curve for managers and players alike, they need to look at the video and come up with a way to break sides down that will do this against us.

[blue nige]

Another defeat. But it’s ok because we played some good football

If that's the best you can do then don't bother!

Tonight was a game too far for the young lads we gave away 2 sloppy goals and if we'd have had granite there it wouldn't have happened. I think tonight was one game where we needed just a little bit of experience to help out those young legs.

[HenneysKnee]

Good in the first 15 minutes, good in the last 15 minutes. We are too slow and ponderous in possession at times, yes the football has improved massively but Dan Jones standing on the ball then knocking it across the back line won’t achieve anything. Never convinced that Josh Kay should be part of the front 3, far more effective in central midfield for me. Second goal especially was very sloppy, no-one marking the first player who received the Ball then the second player who scored just ran past his man. How many times did the young left back receive the ball then couldn’t beat the first man with his cross, if Blyth is to be our Plan B we need to be whipping balls in for him to attack

[Lowtower]

Where's Pedro ?

Unlucky tonight, played okay in patches but switching off costs you at any level.

We'll be okay this season, mid table ish and a good cup run

[liverpoolann]

Very frustrating defeat for all after playing so well first half.Manager said after we are a nearly team and he is not accepting that.Said need to play for 90 mins not well in 25 min patches.We were a charity case tonight and gave away the points.Hope Granite back soon and Connor brown injury not serious.Roll on to Dover and hopefully find that win to boost confidence of a young still developing team

[boyliegladbach]

Need wilson back another bit of experience we are missing.
We Should have been out of sight by time gateshead scored, need to start taking these chances.
Another opposition manager tonoght saying best footballing team they've played against.

[Middleton Nick]

Disappointing after such a good start and when they scored their second we seemed to run out of ideas.Last 10/15 mins we threw everything forward but yet again we find ourselves on the wrong end of the scoreline.

[barrowfan]

Our goal was almost a carbon copy of Saturdays first but they then sussed out what we do on the left wing and snuffed it out.

[McMark]

Would tend to agree with Big E as in that goal before halftime that levelled the scoreline was Gatesheads get out of jail free card. They grew as a team second half and as Middleton Nick said we simply ran out of ideas and became predictable in our play, something we have become unaccustomed to as our play for the most part has been far from predictable. The concern for me is we get opened up with ease at the back at times, injuries certainly haven't helped so hopefully before long we get a settled back four/five and start to show a bit of consistency in defence and become more resolute. The workrate from Smith and Burgess is astounding at times, Kay did well but was probably substituted to save himself a booking and Taylor walks a fine line at times but his canniness has to be admired.

[Hitthebar22]

First 20 minutes was superb, but no cutting edge, so arguably superb but ineffectual. An excellent goal by Smith eventually. Then two sloppy goals and all the attractive stuff is wasted, and just plain bad defending.
In my opinion need a much tighter defence, collectively and individually, and a plan or style to develop more scoring opportunities after all the attractive possession play.

[Jo am back]

It’s becoming too predictable now, teams have sussed us out,sit back with two banks of four then counter attack us.Give gateshead credit they defended well,I wouldn’t say the first goal was sloppy, it was an excellent lay off and finish.This pass pass sideways backwards is starting to grind me down.As said previously we should have been 3 up before they scored.

[Barrowabc]

Would take this over last seasons dross as it is fine lines, not seen a better footballing team then us, roll on next game

[tictactoe]

Agree barrowabc but we need to start winning as well as playing nice football - sometimes a few less passes near the box and have a crack might pay dividends

[Jim]

I listened on Radio Cumbria. I missed the first ten minutes or so, but when I tuned in it was all Barrow. Then, when we scored, it sounded from commentary as if the intensity faded and I was hearing was more about Gateshead. As soon as Gateshead equalised I feared the worst.

Am I right that both their goals came as a result of free kicks? It is always heart in mouth time when Barrow conceded free kicks in stoppage time! The overall pattern this season is becoming quite familiar, nice football, dominate a period of play, concede soft goals. I think more experience at the back is essential, Wilson and Granite would improve things, plus another experienced defender as back up.

[Ste Story]

Infuriating last night at times. For the first 25 minutes we were among the best I've seen us, pressed everything, probed relentlessly and moved it about pulling Gateshead absolutely all over. They changed shape a bit after that and were happy for us to keep the ball in and spray it around the middle or force us wide which saw the game go quite flat. Two poor goals to concede, and from then it was always going to be a tough ask to break down a team that had no ambition of scoring any further goals.

That said, we make it hard for ourselves at time, teams are sussing us out with the same patterns and passes being played every time, I lost count of the amount of times we could have played the ball wider and got a ball into the box quickly but we opted for trying to thread it through the eye of the needle. It works some times, but you need a plan B and some variation in your play.

I know it's the old cliché every time you lose, but Gateshead were probably the poorest and most limited side I've seen this season, they were there for the taking and the fact they've come away with 3 points is more a reflection on us then it is on them.