Barrow v Bradford City, match thread

[MisterPleasant]

What the hell was FARMAN doing for their winner? No need to come off his line and get embroiled in any of the chaos.

What winner?

[mickmike wilson]

Barrow score a goal from open play ! and it's a cross on the bingo card!

Technically it was a through ball..

What a peach of a through ball it was Great ball Newbs.

[Barrow Lad New]

A very entertaining New Year’s Day encounter saw both sides suffer early enforced changes through injury. The first, after only five minutes, saw ex-Bluebird Andy Cook replaced by Sanderson, and 10 minutes later Neo Eccleston had to come on for the injured Rory Feely. Barrow had started brightly, but after Feely’s departure, we struggled to counter a series of Bradford attacks down the left-hand side for the next half hour.

11 minutes in we won the first corner but Bradford went on a break from it and Gotts was booked for fouling Kavanagh. 20 minutes in we had a warning as a fast break by Pattison saw Farman having to parry a strike from Kavanagh.

Three minutes later the unmarked pressure down the left told. Smallwood found Richards who fired past Farman from the left for 1-0.

Around the half hour Farman was the third player to require lengthy treatment, upping the first half to 54 minutes.

Pointon and Richards were creating threats down the left and it seemed to be only a matter of time before we conceded again. However, in the 34th minute, Halliday was booked for a foul on Jackson as we started to impose ourselves on the game afresh. Four minutes later, Newby crossed into the area and Foley headed the ball onto Mahoney who headed just wide of the right post.

In the first minute of time added an excellent run and ball into the area from Gotts found Dallas who was fouled by Baldwin for a penalty. Dallas, who was awarded man of the match, struck the spot kick into the right corner for 1-1, a half time scoreline which had looked unlikely. Gotts also drew a foul by Pattison (who was booked) five minutes later, but Jackson’s free kick went wide.

Ending the first half in the ascendancy, a very different Barrow played the second half, going for every ball and restricting Bradford to few chances. Within the first minute Newby won a free kick, Jackson’s effort being saved.

In the 59th minute Bradford had an increasingly rare attempt on goal, Pointon blasting from the edge of the area after a corner, the ball going just over Farman’s crossbar.

On the hour Bradford made a couple of changes Sarcevic and Walker coming on for Pattison and Kavanagh.

In the 67th minute a very long kick from Farman led to Acquah being fouled as he ran towards goal but Jackson’s free kick was saved.

Vassell then went down injured but after another period of lengthy treatment was deemed fit to continue.

In the 78th minute a sublime fast break led to a superb Barrow goal. Foley did well to win the ball and then rapid passing to Newby to Acquah led to a superb strike from the left. The crowd went wild seeing the Bluebirds come from behind despite injury setbacks. Sheer grit and determination, with special mention for the ever-industrious Gotts who for me was man of the match, appeared to have won the day.

However, straight after the goal we made a couple of changes, which appeared to result in lost momentum. Kouyate and Garner came on for Mahoney and Dallas. In the 85th minute Bradford made further changes too as Odour and Kelly replaced Byrne and Shepherd.

A minute later we suddenly reverted to defensive panic mode, chasing back towards our goal from rapidly advancing Bradford. After a scramble failing to clear, Odour scored from close range within a minute of coming on for 2-2.

Vassell, who had done well to play on after going down 20 minutes earlier, was then replaced by Ogungbo, who, in the second minute of added time, fouled Odour near the goalline as he was about to cross from the right.

The free kick was cleared as we also went for the winner, conscious that a mistake at this stage would be costly. Seven minutes of added time passed without any more goals, the result being a fair 2-2 at the whistle. It was perhaps frustrating to concede late, but a draw would have seemed a considerable achievement towards the end of the first half.

Attendance was 3,918 including 755 visiting fans. With Colchester and Fleetwood losing we climb to 15th place while Harrogate’s home loss to Salford today should hopefully spur on the lads for three points on Saturday.

Although we have been hampered by conceding late goals, spare a thought for bottom-placed Carlisle who were winning 2-1 at Crewe until the 93rd minute- and by the 98th minute had lost 3-2!

[mickmike wilson]

Maybe have taken Aquaman off as he's a big unit who ran all over last few games yesterday but I would have left it longer. I would have taken a chance on leaving Dallas on and perhaps left him up top alone to be a nuisance and to hold the ball. I certainly wouldn't have brought the two goofballs on.. would rather see bluey play than them two.

Clemence just said on Radio Cumbria that Aquah had a tight calf yesterday but said this morning he wanted to give it a go. Clemence said he never expected him to last as long as he did

Not sure about this, Clem has to be Strong & TELL the player hes either playing or not after reviewing the latest medical advice, He allowed Farman to play v CFC & it ended badly for the player & the club & our season dropped off alarmingly, Feely pulled up early doors so is he another playing when he shouldn't ?

Hope Aqua hasn't felt any adverse effects once the adrenalin subsides, Maybe our hand was forced today, But it should be the gaffers decision always imho.

Pleased how our lads are all fighting for each other in these last few games & results will come.

Fantasic listening to the Carlisle cry fest post game, Proper cheered me up Winning 1-2 in the 93rd min & lost 3-2

[vialli 9]

What the hell was FARMAN doing for their winner? No need to come off his line and get embroiled in any of the chaos.

What winner?

Doh.....senior moment. But thats how it felt, snatching a draw from the jaws of a victory agiain.

[BarrowLad71]

Decent point all things considered shame not to win but there we go that’s the story at the moment.

Wood needs to get the recruitment right over the weeks and top of his list has got to be a central defender and central midfielder we are very very short for Saturday.

Also what does Clemances star boy Mahoney actually offer? Getting a bit fed up with watching him

[HenneysKnee]

Unless signings are incoming very shortly no idea what team we play on Saturday; carrying far too many passengers at moment who would be squad players at best if everyone was fit

[jeff1966]

It’s a good point. 86th minute hurts but no spence Campbell and canavan, the spine of our team, no stokes and then losing feely. It’s an absolute patched up midfield and back4. 2nd half they battled their sprouts off. Anyone saying clemence out on back of that clearly expects us to win every game 3-0

[Hadrian]

It’s a good point. 86th minute hurts but no spence Campbell and canavan, the spine of our team, no stokes and then losing feely. It’s an absolute patched up midfield and back4. 2nd half they battled their sprouts off. Anyone saying clemence out on back of that clearly expects us to win every game 3-0

Indeed.

And that tells you everything you need to know about them.

Strength in the face of adversity first half. Great, battling performance second half.

Any of the Cook fanboys keeping a tally of how many League goals he has scored against us and how many times he has been substituted against us in the League. (To be fair, today's substitution was for injury.)

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

It’s a good point. 86th minute hurts but no spence Campbell and canavan, the spine of our team, no stokes and then losing feely. It’s an absolute patched up midfield and back4. 2nd half they battled their sprouts off. Anyone saying clemence out on back of that clearly expects us to win every game 3-0

Indeed.

And that tells you everything you need to know about them.

Strength in the face of adversity first half. Great, battling performance second half.

Any of the Cook fanboys keeping a tally of how many League goals he has scored against us and how many times he has been substituted against us in the League. (To be fair, today's substitution was for injury.)

Regarding Cooky some of the shouting towards him from the main stand when he was down injured was pretty poor. The lad was obviously in trouble and was hurt lying prone with his head in his hands. Fair play to Farman and Vasell who came over to check on him

[David881]

Wrt to the substations and comments about players being tired, are some of them not fit enough to play for 90 minutes? And if not, why not?

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Wrt to the substations and comments about players being tired, are some of them not fit enough to play for 90 minutes? And if not, why not?

These boys are fit it's more about the amount of games they are being asked to play in a short period of time. Four games in 10 days takes its tole. There was no need for the game on the 29th and this Saturdays games should have been moved to Sunday IMO given them more recovery time. Paying customers want to see players playing to there optimum and cramming four games into 10 days does not allow that.

[StephenD]

Wrt to the substations and comments about players being tired, are some of them not fit enough to play for 90 minutes? And if not, why not?

We played better in the second half. We made our first subs relatively late. Not sure fitness was a particular issue.

Do they all have to be able to see out 90 minutes? You'd hope most could but all teams bring on some fresh legs with the number of subs allowed.

[Wintergreen]

So as the forwards start to engage and really have a go, the defence lapses into a shambles! That is so Barrow, but if we can draw our way to safety I'll take that thank you very much. Dull it aint.

[Pedro]

Indeed.

And that tells you everything you need to know about them.

Strength in the face of adversity first half. Great, battling performance second half.

Any of the Cook fanboys keeping a tally of how many League goals he has scored against us and how many times he has been substituted against us in the League. (To be fair, today's substitution was for injury.)

Regarding Cooky some of the shouting towards him from the main stand when he was down injured was pretty poor. The lad was obviously in trouble and was hurt lying prone with his head in his hands. Fair play to Farman and Vasell who came over to check on him

Some of the morons targeted him on previous occasions .
He did well for us and I think said he would not leave for a club in our league but did.
He was offered more money and I believe his girlfriend was offered a job when he moved to Tranmere
He did what he did for us and had to look after himself.

When Rooney returned after leaving the first time because of family reasons .
Think he stated his wife was a nurse and worked shifts nothing was said.

People are fickle.
Andy is getting to the end of his career but wish we had him this season.