Barrow v Cheltenham

[blue nige]

We haven’t won at home in the league for NINETY DAYS! I’m not surprised crowds have plummeted! We are awful to watch.

Appreciate the point mate, but we still support the club , given the amount the owners have spent and the fact that (despite the result) we were the way better team. I remember in a qna Shearer wanted the crowds to be near 4k, 2k makes a big difference on income, which the owners have to make up for .

I'm a Season Ticket Holder yet I must admit I don't enjoy watching Barrow at home, it's not good to watch and we've got some bang average players in defence and up front!

[Jonty]

That was a terrible result tonight given the positions of the two teams going into the game. We are in a very fragile position. Defence all over the place. Didn’t hear one voice on the pitch or from the sidelines.

[Barrowfan92]

So many corners so many chances yes we played better than we have done for a while but Cheltenham have left with the 3 points not good atall

Something needs to chance quickly or we will be looking for pubs to visit in brackley or Boston

[will3988]

Ultimately we are sleepwalking into non league. It was clear to see after a few games this season the squad we assembled wasn't up to it, we could never replace Gotts, Spence, Campbell but whoever was in charge of this squad whether it be Whing or Wood or whoever needs to be asked questioned especially with the money the board say they've spent. With our home record and the style of play we have can't you blame the fans for staying away? I feel sorry for the board they clearly care a lot but ultimately it feels like this season is the year that catches us out and questions need to be asked regarding the recruitment which is nothing new as the balance of the team was never right from the start. I pray we stay up but after tonight it doesn't feel like McDonald is the man and whoever comes in has one hell of a task to get a tune out of this squad!

[Barrow Lad New]

We had ten corners to none from Cheltenham in the first half and over the game had slightly more shots on target. However, our failure to take all but one of our chances and a couple of defensive lapses proved to be our undoing. We had most possession but Cheltenham were quickly and more incisive in attack. Worrying times as results tomorrow could see us edge near the relegation places.

Our first chance came only a minute and a half in when our man of the match Ben Whitfield tested Day with a shot from the edge of the area following our first corner, taken from the left by McCann. Another half dozen Barrow corners followed over the next ten minutes, Raglan having a shot blocked from our sixth and McCann shooting wide from our seventh, the only one played short.

In the 17th minute, following a good attacking move, Hemmings headed over from close range.

However, it was also apparent that when Cheltenham did break they did so with speed and accuracy which stretched our defence. Thomas headed wide in the 20th minute.

Gordon tested Day in the 28th minute with a fierce shot. Gordon then had a shot deflected wide but we could not make the breakthrough.

Cheltenham gave us a warning in the 34th minute when two shots were blocked, then Young put a dangerous ball into our area. This period of pressure paid off for the visitors five minutes later when a cross from the right from Thomas was put in at the far post by Adelakun.

Five minutes later, Barhuizen blazed over the bar for our last chance of the half. However, in the first minute of added time, Stanway was at full stretch to deny Cheltenham a second.

It took us exactly a minute to level in the second half, Whitfield firing home a cross from Barkhuizen.

Cheltenham them came back on the attack, forcing good blocks from Young and Wilson in the 52nd minute. Stanway did well to save a 59th minute shot from outside the box from Young. A minute later, Thomas shot wide following another fast break.

In the 71st minute, Cheltenham’s Bickerstaff hit the crossbar with a shot from the left.

We then made changes, Newby and Mahoney coming on from Whitfield and Earing while the visitors replaced Thomas with Archer.

In the 77th minute we came close when a great Mahoney cross was headed wide of the left post by Gordon from close range.

Cameron then came on for Hemmings.

In the 84th minute we gave away the ball cheaply and a cross from Hutchinson found substitute Archer in acres of space on the right to unleash a shot past Stanway.

A last roll of the dice three minutes later saw Fletcher and Jackson come on for Smith and Barkhuizen while Cheltenham brought on Taylor for Bickerstaff.

Stanway did well to save a sharp shot from Adelakun in the 89th minute. Adelakun was replaced by Power, and Hutchinson by Kinsella, during the five minutes of added time.

Right at the end of the five minutes we won a corner which Stanway came up for but to no avail. A 2-1 defeat and a small pre-Christmas crowd of 2,140 including 94 visitors.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

We dominated the first half but sadly could not put the ball in the back of the net. They went one up against the run of play but we equalised with a well worked goal at the start of the second half.
Josh Gordons miss with a header was a moment in the game. You have simply got to put them away it was a poor miss. They grew in confidence as the second half went on and you could see what was coming and then Archer put them deservedly ahead.
Overall we huffed and puffed and as much as I rate Charlie McCann that for me was his poorest game to date. He gave the ball to cheaply and misplaced passes to many times tonight. Hemmings worked hard up front with some lovely lay offs and flick ons before he tired after 60 minutes.

[Bigfathoss]

We're looking at the wrong Ferguson. We need a complete change in philosophy and, argue this as much as you like, a removal for a DOF that has ANYTHING to do with player selection. Get Duncan in. Shut up. Let him do what he can do. The alternative is back to non-league.

[Jonty]

That was a must not lose for McDonald tonight but the result won’t have done his chances any good. This might just speed up the appointment of the next Manager ….who certainly has their work cut out, we are fragile and down on confidence and the next Manager has to be a strong leader.

[Olderbarrowfan79+]

That must be worrying for the owners.

2140 includes over 1000 season ticket holders.

1000 paying fans missing from usual attendance.

Very worrying to lose 1k fans the past 2 games we have been so poor at home though this season and people dont have loyalty when its hard times i feel anymore results wise it has been a tough watch most home games this season its been so frustrating and very poor displays mainly

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

2140 includes over 1000 season ticket holders.

1000 paying fans missing from usual attendance.

Very worrying to lose 1k fans the past 2 games we have been so poor at home though this season and people dont have loyalty when its tougher times i feel

Agreeing to switch the game to a Friday night was a massive mistake its backfired massively financially. We would most likely have got over 2500 had it been played on the Saturday.

[Olderbarrowfan79+]

Very worrying to lose 1k fans the past 2 games we have been so poor at home though this season and people dont have loyalty when its tougher times i feel

Agreeing to switch the game to a Friday night was a massive mistake its backfired massively financially. We would most likely have got over 2500 had it been played on the Saturday.

Totally agree made no sense

[Jonty]

We're looking at the wrong Ferguson. We need a complete change in philosophy and, argue this as much as you like, a removal for a DOF that has ANYTHING to do with player selection. Get Duncan in. Shut up. Let him do what he can do. The alternative is back to non-league.

I agree get Big Dunc in,…to play up front.

[Pedro]

We're looking at the wrong Ferguson. We need a complete change in philosophy and, argue this as much as you like, a removal for a DOF that has ANYTHING to do with player selection. Get Duncan in. Shut up. Let him do what he can do. The alternative is back to non-league.

I agree get Big Dunc in,…to play up front.

And when Manager at Forest Green 1 win in 18.
We need a proven Manager to save us ,it's looking like the season before we went out of the league.
Fundamentally we have need a centre forward for two seasons and that's not been addressed,the loss of three midfielders this season has further weakened the team.

The next appointment which needs to be soon will be decisive as if we get this wrong it will impact on seasons to come and see us fall down the none league pyramid.
The Director of Football must take a lot of blame but that can be sorted at the end of the season. We are in the last chance saloon.

[Bigfathoss]

I agree get Big Dunc in,…to play up front.

And when Manager at Forest Green 1 win in 18.
We need a proven Manager to save us ,it's looking like the season before we went out of the league.
Fundamentally we have need a centre forward for two seasons and that's not been addressed,the loss of three midfielders this season has further weakened the team.

The next appointment which needs to be soon will be decisive as if we get this wrong it will impact on seasons to come and see us fall down the none league pyramid.
The Director of Football must take a lot of blame but that can be sorted at the end of the season. We are in the last chance saloon.

Forest Green were basically down before he set foot in the place. Everyone knows that.

[Methuselah]

We played faster more attacking football tonight,but and its a big improvement but apart from Ben Whitfield who was brilliant tonight we seemed to be lost.We had players taking too long to pass the ball and Stanway seemed a bit indecisive when it came to kicking the ball out taking far too long..
We definitely need to tighten up our defence which is all over the place at the moment.We also need somebody who can score.I lost count of the number of crosses we had tonight and couldn,t get on the end of them.Therein lies the problem.
It doesn,t matter how much possession we have if we cannot score or defend.and it is not corrected soon there is only one direction we are heading and I for one hope it never happens.
I am fast coming to conclusion that a lot of these players we have signed are just not good enough at this level.