Barrow v Accrington Stanley, match thread

[saltcellar]

Better, but with Newport winning not good enough. Just can’t see where goals are going to come from unfortunately

Well, we have scored in each of our last 14 away games, so maybe Tuesday.........

[LCBAFC40]

Still think MJ, Smith and Whitfield would make a massive difference to the squad.
Great team effort today and deserved a point bit we just do not creat chances although Foley did mention that in his interview so maybe improvements coming.
2 tough away games so lets see what comes of those matches although we have 10 cup finals now.
Would have liked to see Powell get on as I think he would attack the defenders esp with around 10 minutes to go with his pace and energy. Newby loses the ball too much for me. Onto the next match

[andyg]

We need 1.6 points per game to have a hope of football league survival.
We needed all three points today and looking at the fixtures I can't see us getting more than 3 draws for the rest of the season.
Even if we went on a 5 game winning run it wouldn't be enough .
The damage is done.

Talking utter shite of course it would be enough

Win 5 games in a row we'd walk it. For a start we will have 44 points and I cant see anyone going down on that amount of points. The fact we have a really tough run in compared to the other teams around us it would be a minor miracle but saying 5 wins on the run wouldn't be enough is ridiculous.

[Jonty]

We had a much better defensive shape. Canavan had a solid game with some no nonsense defending, MacDonald, Jackson / Shipley, all had good games, . Midfield, Harper looked a different player to Tuesday night. They all put a shift in and thats what they need to do every game…….was never going to be like a switch flicked and we’d suddenly find a goal scoring touch, Accrington one of the meanest in the league defensively.

All in all, a solid point and clean sheet against a well drilled mid table side. We restricted them to some pot shots from range.

10 more performances like that and we may stand a chance BUT ….we’ve got to find a way score. We've got to approach every game on the front foot now, even if that means throwing caution to the wind at times.

[Scott5]

Signs of improvement but being realistic we needed to win that. Does anyone really see us going to Salford and Grimsby, MK Dons etc and winning. A draw here and there isn’t enough. But then it’s football and Newport have pulled a couple out of the bag and I can’t believe a team with Garner and Glennon in can finish above us surely not!?

Whitfield is the one we really miss the only player with a bit of pace and genuine quality and he seems a way off still.

It’s hoping and praying other teams don’t pick up points rather than expecting us to stay up on our own merits.

[McMark]

Couldn’t fault any of the players today for effort, but that should be a minimum anyway. We just lacked that all important cutting edge. Onwards to Tuesday and hopefully we can add a goal or two to our play.
Ref gave us nothing and could of cost us a goal after ignoring a blatant foul, thankfully the linesman’s flag worked.

[Barrow Lad New]

We showed fighting spirit and commitment today throughout the game, a vast improvement over Tuesday evening’s capitulation. The only thing missing was the accurate final ball and touch, and it is worrying we have only netted two goals in our seven home games in 2026. However, we have scored eight goals in our six away matches this year!

Our lack of fire power saw us move back into the drop zone following Newport’s comeback at Barnet where they won 2-1. However, building on today’s showing, perhaps our better ability to score away will stand us in good stead for the Salford and Grimsby games this week!

A draw was the least we deserved today, but we had the linesman’s flag to thank for denying Stanley a 90th minute winner as Martin hit the right post, the ball springing back along the goalline for Madden to eventually fire in at the left post. However, three minutes later, our fast break towards goal was dragged back by the referee to book Martin for a foul on Jackson, rather than playing advantage.

Wright comfortably saved a McCann free kick in the 14th minute after Shipley was fouled by Abimbola. Four minutes later, McDonald fouled Abimbola but Whalley’s free kick resulted in a Barrow break.

In the 20th minute a McCann corner from the right resulted in a Gordon header which went wide.

On the half hour Shipley was booked for a foul on Whalley. A minute later, McCann followed his teammate into the referee’s notebook.

In the 33rd minute a Grant corner was punched out by Stanway, resulting in a break by Barrow’s man of the match Earing and a cross by Harper.

In the 39th minute we threatened again from a Shipley throw-in. A good cross by McCann gave Gordon a header on goal which was saved by Wright.

A minute later, a Stanley player was carded, Butterfield having fouled Harper. McCann’s free kick was cleared for a McCann corner from the left. Eventually the ball fell to Jackson outside the area whose shot went over the bar.

Another minute later, an Accrington corner from the right was played short by Grant. Excellent Barrow defending in the area cleared a threat on goal for a throw, from which Madden fired across goal.

In the 45th minute, Sass fouled Gordon, McCann’s free kick resulting in a Shipley header which went wide.

A close-fought first half which we edged. The second half become more intensive and open although neither goalkeeper was troubled much.

Two minutes in MacDonald fouled Abimbola, Stanway punching out Stanley’s free kick.

Five minutes in, a good run by Harper fed by McCann then saw his shot go over the bar.

A good Barrow attack was then followed by a Stanley counter and corner. In the 57th minute, Accrington replaced Abimbola with Conneely.

Good defending by Shipley in the area on the hour thwarted an incisive Stanley attack. An Earing cross was then cleared for a Jackson corner at the other end, which resulted in Wright saving a Shipley shot

In the 66th minute, Newby replaced Rose. Seconds later, good work by McCann and Walker found Earing who put in a good cross.

Five minutes later, Woods was booked for wrestling with Earing. McCann’s free kick was cleared.

Jackson then won a right hand corner which he took and, after it wasn’t initially cleared, MacDonald shot over the bar. MacDonald was then fouled by Whalley was wasn’t booked despite our No.2 hobbling following the challenge.

Stanley then replaced Butterfield with Martin in the 78th minute. A couple of Accrington free kicks taken by Whalley came to nothing as both sides upped efforts to find the winner. However, following the second, the ball eventually came back out to Whalley who tried a speculative lob from 40 yards which was saved by Stanway.

In the 86th minute, Fletcher replaced Walker for the Bluebirds.

Three minutes later, Matthews was fouled and Wright’s free kick caused panic in Barrow’s area as Martin hit the right post with a sharp shot from distance. The ball tricked agonisingly along our touchline before being cleared into the path of Madden who netted the ball from the left- only to be adjusted by the linesman to be offside.

A goal would have been very cruel on Barrow but we had our own share of bad luck three minutes later. After shots from Stanley’s Madden and Conneely were blocked, Barrow were on a fast break, Jackson being felled by Martin. Instead of allowing us to race on with a good chance of scoring, the referee pulled play back and yellow-carded Martin. With that our last chance went begging and the score remained 0-0.

Attendance was 2,417.

[Bingo]

We need 1.6 points per game to have a hope of football league survival.
We needed all three points today and looking at the fixtures I can't see us getting more than 3 draws for the rest of the season.
Even if we went on a 5 game winning run it wouldn't be enough .
The damage is done.

How do you work that out - we need to be better than 2 other teams that’s it points per game this season we aren’t in the bottom 2

[Rushy]

Talking utter shite of course it would be enough

Win 5 games in a row we'd walk it. For a start we will have 44 points and I cant see anyone going down on that amount of points. The fact we have a really tough run in compared to the other teams around us it would be a minor miracle but saying 5 wins on the run wouldn't be enough is ridiculous.

I can see Newport picking up 13 points from thier matches and Harrogate and Crawley both maybe picking up 10 points.
Tranmere will probably draw a few to get them to safety.
Literally can't see us picking up more than 3 points.
1.6 ppg would definitely see us safe but its not happening lads.

[Olderbarrowfan79+]

Salford A draw 1 point
Grimsby A draw 1 point
Bromley H draw 1 point
Mk Dons A loss
Chesterfield H draw 1 point
Barnet A win 3 points
Oldham H draw 1 point
Walsall H win 3 points
Cambridge A loss
Newport H draw 1 point

12 points would that be doable and enough who knows

[Hendoblue]

Salford A draw 1 point
Grimsby A draw 1 point
Bromley H draw 1 point
Mk Dons A loss
Chesterfield H draw 1 point
Barnet A win 3 points
Oldham H draw 1 point
Walsall H win 3 points
Cambridge A loss
Newport H draw 1 point

12 points would that be doable and enough who knows

So just don’t lose most games. Good idea that.

[Steeley]

As illogical as it would be given how bad we’ve been, shit teams go on runs and survive most years in most leagues.
We’ve been seconds away from a handful more points on the board in a few games
Got to try and hope

[tommy2thumbs]

Some "unusual" tactics today

Playing four at the back
Leaving someone up when defending corners
None of playing out from the back
Canavan actually talking to players, like a captain should

[bluessupporter]

Got to try and hope

Absolutely!

We have a game in hand on those immediately above and Tranmere are on a terrible run which could drag them down further.

I know some would say they are being realistic when they post the doom and gloom, but remember that players will be reading this as well, and they need a boost, not negativity.

[Hitthebar22]

Win 5 games in a row we'd walk it. For a start we will have 44 points and I cant see anyone going down on that amount of points. The fact we have a really tough run in compared to the other teams around us it would be a minor miracle but saying 5 wins on the run wouldn't be enough is ridiculous.

I can see Newport picking up 13 points from thier matches and Harrogate and Crawley both maybe picking up 10 points.
Tranmere will probably draw a few to get them to safety.
Literally can't see us picking up more than 3 points.
1.6 ppg would definitely see us safe but its not happening lads.

You'd better get a bet on then. At least £100 if so sure