Barrow v County: Match Thread (26/12/2023)

So, Barrow, then, what can we say? Well for a start let's not forget what happened last season when County were physically present but didn't really turn up. D minus, must do better. Barrow currently stand 2nd in L2 having risen almost without trace over recent weeks. Their record is P 22 W 12 D 7 L 3 F 33 A 17. Their goals conceded is the best in L2, with Mansfield just behind on 18, County sit 3rd with 22 and AFC Wombles 4th with 23. So they keep things tight and are hard to beat, oh and they have won 7 straight, and are unbeaten in 11 (8 Ws and 3 Ds).

Their H record is a bit more modest W 5 D 4 F 11 A 5, they are better on the road W 7 D 3 L 3 F 22 A 12. Their Ws are Tranmere (a) 1-2 on opening day, Rock Bottom Sutton (h) 2-1, Harrogate (a) 0-1, Donny (h) 3-2, FGR (a) 0-2, Morecambe (h) 1-0, Bratfut (a) 1-2, Crawley (h) 1-0, Cole U (a) 1-4, Walsall (h) 2-0, Swindon (a) 0-3 and Crewe (a) 1-3. Their Ds are Accy Stanley (a) 1-1, Wrexham (h) 1-1, Newport (a) 1-1, Notts County (h) 1-1, MKD (a) 2-2, AFC Wombles (h) 0-0 and Salford (h) 0-0. Their Ls are County (a) 1-0 (Louie Barry on 66 mins), Mansfield (a) 1-0 and Grimsby (a) 2-1.

So, a bit like Notts, they've not beaten many top 10 sides - Crewe and Bratfut (who seem to be on the rise...), although they've had draws with several others. Obviously they are tighter at the back than Notts but otherwise they've been beating mostly lower teams so, hmmmmm.

Their top scorer, on just 5, is 6ft 3 Emile Acquah (previously of Southend (3 goals in 41 apps) and Maidenhead (15 goals in 76 apps)). Next up on 4 apiece are fellow striker Dom Telford (ex Bury, Plymouth Newport - 26 goals in 52 apps and Crawley - 12 goals in 47 apps) and Ben Whitfield formerly of this parish (ex Yeovil, Port Vale, Torquay, he has 7 goals in 55 apps over 2 seasons, although only 10 apps this term). Next up on 3 apiece are much travelled MF Sam Foley, D George Ray and Kian Spence. Niall Canavan and Gerard Garner both have 2 and 3 others have scored 1 apiece. So the Goals are pretty well spread, but thinly.

They signed a fair few players over the summer - MF Dean Campbell coming down from Aberdeen, D Mazeed Ogungbo joined from Aresenal via a season long loan last term at Crawley, Striker Emile Acquah from Maidenhead, ex-Southampton trainee Striker Sam Bellis and Ex Crawley Striker Dom Telford all followed. In September they signed Liverpool's 19 year old MF Luca Stephenson (he's played 12 times this term) on season long loan and veteran CB James Chester (previously of Hull, Villa and St*ke) signed a short term contract

So there you have it: as best I can make out they are tight, organised, big and probably, ahem, competitive. Their secret weapon may be their 6ft 5 GK Paul Farman who seems to be having a pretty good season.

All told, and in light of the present thinness of the squad, I reckon a D would be a reasonable result against a side who are obviously hard to break down. An early goal could be crucial, anyway, fingers crossed....

Looks like our defence didn't get the memo.

Ffs

I dunno, I go sort my work stuff and come back to find it's 2-2 - bloody hell!

Can we get all three from here?

Well after what sounded like a very poor first half that result will do for me. Sounds like night and day after the substitutions and to score two against the L2's tightest defence, especially after going 2 down so quickly - that's a gut check and County pass it.

Even with 6 or 7 first choice 1stXI players out County are still a heck of a side, but yes, we need some fresh blood and some good news on the Collar, Sarce, Hippolyte, MSH etc front.

Keep those fingers crossed, this was a major hurdle and we coped with it. Onwards and upwards.