High Energy Barrow (a)

[Coolcat]

What is JB on about? 

[Bingers]

Any idea how ticket sales are doing? It's a long way to the ărse end of nowhere, so I 'm not expecting as many as last time, but as my Barrow supporting friend is not going this time, I had better go in the away end. Can I wait until the day or should I buy in advance?

[GrangeParkCobbler]

The Cobblers make the 450 mile round trip to Holker Street Barrow on Saturday to take on The Bluebirds in this League 2 encounter.

Barrow of course had a spell out of the league between 1972 and 2020. They lost out on a re-election vote, their place taken by Hereford United at the time, suffered financial turmoil in the 1990's when they were at the mercy of a liquidator for a spell, before bouncing back as a "newco" in 2002 and eventual promotion back to the EFL on points per game in the Covid affected season of 2019-20.
Their Holker Street ground (now called the "SO Legal Stadium") and Sixfields both share the dubious honour of being built on rubbish tips!

Barrow have been faltering of late, a decent start to the season saw them in the top 3 early on, but recently a run of only one win in their last eight games has seen them slip to 8th in the table, a point outside of the playoff positions. An opening day victory at new boys Stockport was backed up by a victory in the next game at home to Bradford. Since then they have picked up seven further wins on their own patch, they have lost four times too with only the one game ending in a draw.

The Cumbrians are currently managed by Pete Wild, he's been in charge since May taking over from Phil Brown after a three year spell at Halifax Town. He has a record of 13 wins and 13 defeats in his 33 game Barrow tenure.

Josh Gordon leads the goalscoring stakes, he has 11 to his name this season although seven of those came by the middle of September. Former Cobbler Billy Waters has eight to his name. Defender Niall Canavan is their only ever present having appeared in all 26 league fixtures.

Waters is one of four former Cobblers in their setup. Billy scored just two league goals in 39 Cobblers appearances over a spell of three years between 2017 and 2020. He's arrived at Barrow via Torquay and Halifax, for whom he was fairly prolific under manager Wild scoring 21 goals in 48 appearances for the Shaymen.
Sam Foley former Cobbler, He was with us between 2017 and 2019 and has had spells at St Mirren. Motherwell and Tranmere before turning up at Barrow.
Third on the list is David Moyo, he was a trainee with the Cobblers who went on to make 2 league starts for us with 12 other appearances off the bench, he scored once before dropping down to non-league and scoring plenty of goals for Brackley and St Albans before a decent spell north of the border with Hamilton. Moyo is still a Barrow player but is now out on loan at Barnet.
Last but not least is Jason Taylor, a Cobbler back in 2015 and 2016 he has made over 100 appearances for Barrow, but only one this season and that was in the Trophy. He is on the coaching staff at the club but still retains a player registration.

We played the Cumbrians regularly in Division 4 days back in the late 50's and early 60's before our meteoric rise up the leagues....we met them again on the way back down of course too! In a total of 17 games between the sides we have won 12, only lost four times and there has been just the one draw. Three of Barrows four wins against us came at their home. Rivalries were renewed in 2022, Barrow did stun us with a first ever win in Northampton thanks to a second half Aaron Holloway goal, and then of course we made the long trek on the last day of last season, where despite a 3-1 win we missed out on promotion thanks to....well, i'll just leave it there!! Three goals in the first 21 minutes were ultimately not enough, two of them scored by Hoskins and the other by Horsfall, Liam Roberts saw red for a last minute handball too.
Earlier this season we recorded a comfortable 3-1 win, Hoskins, Bowie and McGloire the Town scorers.

Just looking at those attendances for the games in 2022 and 2023, last season at Sixfields there were 4604 present, for the last game at Barrow it was 4603 and for the game this season it was 4605.

Our old friend Darren Drysdale is the man in charge of the game, a league ref since 2004 we have seen him plenty of times over the years the most recent of which was the 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Cambridge last season. Its his first visit to Barrow since August 2021 when he reffed their 3-2 win over Hartlepool.

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Great report as usual GPC.

Still undecided on this one. Might wait until Saturday morning..

[west stand oap]

Darren Drysdale is the referee we had for our Division 1 game at Ipswich a couple of seasons back when he butted heads with Alan Judge. In 20 games this season he has issued 49 yellows and 22 reds.
Not much history with Barrow, just 8 visits with 4 wins 1 draw and 3 defeats. They have won 8 of their 13 home games, drawing 1 and losing 4, scoring 19 and only conceding 11. They have kept 5 clean sheets in the 13 games and failed to score in 4. Of the top 10 teams only Bradford have scored fewer goals than Barrow and only Mansfield have conceded more. Barrow won 8 of their first 10 home games but have only taken 1 point (0-0 v Rochdale) from their last 3 (losing 1-2 v Tranmere and 0-1 v Swindon) but since these results they have won 3-2 away at Mansfield and drawn 0-0 at Orient.
We expect Guthrie to return to the starting 11 as it has been 2 weeks since he was missing with illness at Stockport and JB says 2 of the injured players may be able to take some part in the game. Obviously it is guesswork to predict our likely defence but I just hope the wheel comes off the barrow and we return with 3 points.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Well done chaps, bloody good read.

[Carton Lid]

Darren Drysdale is the referee we had for our Division 1 game at Ipswich a couple of seasons back when he butted heads with Alan Judge. In 20 games this season he has issued 49 yellows and 22 reds.
.

22 red cards in 20 games 

[Coolcat]

22 red cards in 20 games 

Yes, but butting heads with stompy stroppy Alan Judge gains him many kudos points...
Call him the Gnu...and make sure he sees us clap him!
Ulverston for the weekend, as last season. Duke of Wellington across from the station late on...and in the away end this time!

[Worthless Recluse]

Here now for the weekend. Spot of lunch in Cartmel followed by the coast Rd in from Ulverston. Barrow is known as home to the meat and potato pie, funny that.

[lordjord]

Important game to get back on track. In real need of a clean sheet and 3 points. Hopefully have had enough time to get a few bodies back, particularly in defence.

[606 Parklands_Cobbler]

Spot of lunch in Cartmel

L'Enclume?

[Tabasco Kid]

L'Enclume?

Pig and Whistle more like.

[guest3551]

We are entrenched in the Abbey House after a fine repast in Oscar's. Lots of fishy things. Hoping to give the squid an outing when we get back to our room.

[Worthless Recluse]

Abbey apts for us,Taj for dinner. Very disappointed Manhattans has closed.

[Worthless Recluse]

Pig and Whistle more like.

What makes you think that, doubting Mr T?

[DavCobb]

Big game today. Anything other than a win could see us in the play offs. Fingers crossed some of the injured players are back. Super Sammy needs his scoring boots on.

[Tabasco Kid]

What makes you think that, doubting Mr T?

I understand that other than the pickled eggs, they do a mighty fine Desperate Dan cow pie. Right up your street.  Enjoy your yourself today, and come back with three points.

[Irchy cob]

McWilliams is in the picture of the squad checking out the pitch on the Official site so hopefully he’s back.

[Tabasco Kid]

[Dr Feelgood]

Wheres that new fella?