Barrow v Rochdale match thread

[blue nige]

When you think we only need to win three more games to reach the magic 50 total

Maths not your best subject?

[sambino]

Frustrating game today that we should have won. Rochdale especially Quigley using spoiling tactics falling over at every opportunity. Was worried before the game they wound rough Maloney up on corners but our defence didn’t give them much. Bennet had some nice touches and with 90 mins in his legs will be better for it. We have come a long way and although disappointing last couple of games can see with Newby and a couple of other new faces we will get back to winning ways

[Barrow Lad New]

After a minute’s applause in memory of Pele, a crowd of 3,055 including 273 visiting fans (although it looked fuller than the Tranmere game!) witnessed a very hard-fought scrappy encounter with very few chances on goal. Barrow go back up to 10th in a very congested middle-of-the-table while Rochdale remain in the drop zone.

With Farman and Lillis both injured, Moloney took their place in goal, and there were starts for Brown and Bennett.

We started brightly with the first corner within 30 seconds, plus a defensive header clearing Canavan’s header off the line. Three minutes later, good work by Barrow’s man of the match found Whitfield who crossed to Water in the area. Unfortunately, Water blasted his close-range effort wide of the left post. Another four minutes on, Bennett headed over from inside the area.

These early efforts were the last chances at either end for the rest of the half as both sides struggled to string passes together without being intercepted. Long range efforts went well wide or were blocked. In the 35th minute a foul on Brown on the half-way line brough a yellow card for ex-Bluebird Quigley.

The second half brought further chances for Barrow but none to really trouble O’Donnell. Three minutes in, Stevens blasted over from a Whitfield free kick. In the 58th minute a cross by Neal was headed wide by Bennett.

Rochdale’s attempts were well off target when they did manage the occasional run on goal, such as when Seriki fed Quigley for a shot in the 62nd minute.

A minute later we made the first changes with Gordon and Gotts coming on for Stevens and Neal. A Ray header was then blocked from a Whitfield free kick, Whitfield then being booked for holding Lloyd-McGoldrick.

Another foray by the visitors in the 69th minute saw Ebanks-Landell feeding Kelly who failed to connect, giving Moloney an easy collect.

Two minutes later, Gotts crossed to Brough who shot straight at O’Donnell. More efforts by Brough and Whitfield were blocked before Rochdale unleashed their best effort in the 76th minute, Moloney punching a free kick away for a corner after Henderson had come on for Kelly.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Rochdale’s Ball was booked and Warren and Foley came on for Brown and Whitfield. For Rochdale, Sinclair and Odoh replaced Rodney and Lloyd.

In the 83rd minute, Waters skied a Brough cross as we still couldn’t find that elusive goal. Four minutes later, a dangerous Warren cross was put out for a Foley corner from which Gordon shot over the bar.

Four minutes of added time were signalled as the crowd urged Barrow on to find the winner. Two Gordon crosses into the area were blocked by yet more dogged defending and a long-range effort from Bennett slid just wide of the right post. Rochdale’s Sinclair was booked as the game ended in stalemate

[cuffy]

Being down with the lurgy I had to spend a tenner to watch at home, I think we certainly did enough to just edge it. However no real potency attacking the visitors goal. What I will say is a special mention to our keeper on his EFL debut. Rochdale won a free kick late on in the game out on the right, great delivery in and both teams just watched it bounce, without Moloney being on his toes to get a slight touch to push it round the post that ball was destined for the top right hand corner of our goal.

[pjdaly]

Connor Brown is definitely not the future of Barrow AFC.
Connor Brown wouldn't understand the meaning of marauding in the opposition half (unlike Patrick Brough).
But oh how refreshing to see such a solid defensive right-back performance.
Very well done Connor Brown.

[Methuselah]

Sorry Blue Nige,I stand corrected,it should have been five games not three,but having said that it should still be easily achievable before the end of the season.

[Hitthebar22]

Poor game, two poor sides on the day. Can't really understand why we have lost our early season form. Hopefully a few new faces will change things favourably. Interesting interview with Wild post match re the shenanigans regarding transfers at this time of year. Personally I hope the fickle/capricious fans who have been dishing out vitriol because we aren't where we were take a deep breath and be thankful for the manager we have and the overall progress we are making.

[liverpoolann]

Scrappy game but played better than against Tranmere.Still too many high balls punted up field aimlessly .Nice to see Connor back a real firm tackler warren a bit light weight for me .Quigley appears shadow of player was for us can see why Stockport farmed him out.Not pretty match but more endeavour and stopped the rot.Think will improve with few new signings cos we looking but predictable.Hope Kay back for next two games at his best and in control of his temper.Goalie did well but Hope Farman back soon tough two away games to come.Why boo the team trying their best no lack of effort.Some people so ignorant .Pete wild doing fine we will improve as club grows more professional in all aspects.

[blue nige]

What summed this game up was ( I think I'm right) near the end the linesman ( near to the stand) flagged for offside, we then took the free kick in their half ,you couldn't make it up !

[Scott]

Poor game between two poor teams, Rochdale were awful first half offered nothing at all but we never really looked like breaking them down.
We started well enough and pressed, won corners and put a few balls into the box but didn't create too much. Their two centre halves headed and kicked everything and the only time Bennett really won the ball was deep or on the touchline where he wasn't a threat - he got his head on one good cross first half (from Brough I think) but put it wide. I called at halftime that it would be 0-0, Rochdale were more than happy to settle for a point although they got better as the game went on and second half probably had as much of the ball without creating a lot.

I thought we actually played better against Tranmere as they were a little more open and made for a better game (slightly) whereas today we looked devoid of any creativity or ideas and there were too many slow passes, second touches and missing the urgency and pace that we showed a couple of months ago. We had a few chances where we could've counter attacked but aside from Brough bursting down the left on one occasion, we were too slow and let Rochdale get back.

Goody said it on radio and again our midfield played very safe sideways and backwards and when they attempted a crossfield ball it rarely came off, Stevens aside no one looks like creating anything or is willing to take a shot, that's definitely an area that needs improving as much as the forward situation. I'm not convinced by Waters who keeps coming deep for the ball and lays it off but just doesn't really threaten enough for me, doesn't get into the box enough either and I'm not sure what his role is.

Brown had a very solid game at right back won a few tackles as you'd expect but he is limited going forwards, on current form I'd prefer him to Warren though. Brough got MOM and I wouldn't disagree he's our best defender and probably our best attacker too and puts some decent crosses in again with no one attacking them.

I think a lack of a plan b has been mentioned but more than that we have no real depth in the squad, certain players aren't anywhere near the levels of earlier in the season but have no real competition for their places. Nwabokei (sp) has to be worth a go in midfield as White and Waters aren't really doing in there at the minute, if he isn't up to it which perhaps is Wild is reluctant to use him, then we need to try and get better in over the next 4 weeks.
Wild isn't daft and seems to know what we need, sounds like some much needed changes will happen over the next month and freshen things up.

Could be a lot worse, could be paying to watch crap like Rochdale week in week out and watch Quigley falling around - shadow of the player that we had 3 years ago.

[saltcellar]

There is a lot of hype about teams having to reach 50 points to ensure safety from relegation.
No team in the last 5 seasons has had to accumulate anywhere near that figure.
Last season Scunthorpe had 26 and Oldham 38 points and went out of the league.
The 2020-21 season saw Southend on 45 and Grimsby 43 relegated.
In the curtailed 2019-20 Macclesfield had only 19 points from 37 games and relegated.
Despite being on 22 points from 36 matches, Stevenage earned a reprieve in 2019-20.
Look where they are now.
Notts County on 41 and Yeovil 40 went out in 2018-19 and in 2017-18, Barnet had the highest figure of any relegated team in this period 46.
Chesterfield joined them on 38 points.
After 23 games, Rochdale are on 16 points and Gillingham 14.
Will they get to 50 points, to do so they will need an upturn of form resembling a promotion chasing team.
Rochdale only have 4 wins to date, Gillingham only 2.
To reach 50 Rochdale need the equivalent of 11 wins and a draw and Gillingham 12 wins from the remaining 23 matches.
That Rochdale team today are certainly not capable of that.
Gillingham might spend their way to safety but reach anywhere near 50 points, no chance.

[Jonty]

Was frustrating but I came away feeling there were positives to take. Turned out one of our best chances came in the first minute to Canavan but he couldn’t get good power or direction on the header and it went straight at the keeper. After that plenty of endeavour but at times one touch too many in and around the box and sometimes when a touch was needed we snatched at it. I always felt we were on top in the game- just that bit of quality lacking that was needed to open up a resolute defence. We didn't play out from the back but maybe we didn’t want to risk Rochdale putting a squeeze on Malony so played it safe with his kicking. Bennett won most of his aerial battles.
Positives - clean sheet, good game from Bennett and Brown coming in. Malony had a solid confidence boosting debut (am I right was that his league debut?)
Thought Waters pressed hard first half and forced a lot of rushed errors. Thought he had a good game.
Yes we didn’t get a win which would have been most welcome but anyone who went to the fixture at their place will see that we restricted Quigley this time around and that was at a time when we were supposedly flying. Plenty to build on and we can get back to winning ways.

[Suffolk Blue]

Connor Brown is definitely not the future of Barrow AFC.
Connor Brown wouldn't understand the meaning of marauding in the opposition half (unlike Patrick Brough).
But oh how refreshing to see such a solid defensive right-back performance.
Very well done Connor Brown.

Exactly my thoughts PJ. We know that Connors strengths don’t really suit PWs system but jeez he put in a shift today. Tenacious, direct and uncomplicated.

I don’t expect to see much of Warren until McClelland is back. Only when that happens would I suggest that there is sufficient defensive cover to offset Warren moving forward.

[Jonty]

Thought Brown was great. He gets stuck in and likes a tackle. That’s what his game is all about. Perhaps we will see Newby playing the width on that side.

[Suffolk Blue]

There is a lot of hype about teams having to reach 50 points to ensure safety from relegation.
No team in the last 5 seasons has had to accumulate anywhere near that figure.
Last season Scunthorpe had 26 and Oldham 38 points and went out of the league.
The 2020-21 season saw Southend on 45 and Grimsby 43 relegated.
In the curtailed 2019-20 Macclesfield had only 19 points from 37 games and relegated.
Despite being on 22 points from 36 matches, Stevenage earned a reprieve in 2019-20.
Look where they are now.
Notts County on 41 and Yeovil 40 went out in 2018-19 and in 2017-18, Barnet had the highest figure of any relegated team in this period 46.
Chesterfield joined them on 38 points.
After 23 games, Rochdale are on 16 points and Gillingham 14.
Will they get to 50 points, to do so they will need an upturn of form resembling a promotion chasing team.
Rochdale only have 4 wins to date, Gillingham only 2.
To reach 50 Rochdale need the equivalent of 11 wins and a draw and Gillingham 12 wins from the remaining 23 matches.
That Rochdale team today are certainly not capable of that.
Gillingham might spend their way to safety but reach anywhere near 50 points, no chance.

Great stats saltcellar. Saved me from working all that out..

One other way of looking at the size of the task facing the bottom two. Rochdale and Gillingham are now approaching the point whereby to overhaul us, they would have to outscore us by an average of a point a game over a twenty game period. That may not sound too bad but this far out it’s a seriously improbable task. If we were to average just one point per game for the rest of the season, the two bottom clubs would have to perform at a level only being set currently by the top three.