Preview: Barrow v Tranmere Rovers

4 February 2022

A view of Barrow — The Dunes Hotel Stadium

We turn our attentions to the weekend action with a full and in-depth preview of Tranmere Rovers' League Two visit to The Dunes Hotel Stadium.

Barrow v Tranmere Rovers
Saturday 5^th February 2022, 3pm
The Dunes Hotel Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Tranmere Rovers secured three important points on Tuesday night as they beat Stevenage at Prenton Park – but the victory was just as important psychologically as it was statistically.

Micky Mellon’s men have been in an absolutely incredible run of form for the past couple of months – a sequence which has seen them win nine of their last 11 games to rocket up to second in the League Two table.

However, their only defeat in that run came at the hands of leaders Forest Green Rovers who delivered a crushing blow when they won 4-0 in Birkenhead last weekend.

Mellon admitted that it took mental strength to recover so quickly and get three points in midweek and he will now hope they can build on that as they head for Barrow on Saturday.

Rovers are looking for a return to League One at the second attempt following their controversial relegation on points per game at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

However, they know they will have their work cut out against The Bluebirds after Mark Cooper’s men enjoyed a morale-boosting 1-0 victory at promotion-chasing Northampton Town on Tuesday.

One To Watch
Josh Hawkes will hope to push for a return to the Rovers starting eleven this weekend after coming off the bench to good effect during the second half of Tuesday’s win over Stevenage.

The talented young midfielder has completed a permanent switch to Prenton Park during the January transfer window after impressing Micky Mellon during a spell on loan from Sunderland.

The former Hartlepool United star can produce moments of magic to create opportunities for teammates and he also operates a shoot on sight policy which The Bluebirds will need to nullify on Saturday if he features.

Head To Head
The Bluebirds are looking to hit back against Tranmere Rovers after they ran out winners when the side met at Prenton Park on Boxing Day.

However, Barrow have a good recent home record against their Merseyside opponents having not been beaten on their own patch by them in any of the last four meetings.

Referee
Oliver Langford will be back in action at The Dunes Hotel Stadium for a second time this season when he’s on the whistle for our League Two meeting with Tranmere Rovers.

The experienced official was also the man in the middle for our 1-0 win over Scunthorpe United in the Carabao Cup back in August.

Having been on the EFL’s list of referees since 2008, Langford operates mainly in the Championship these days – his latest outing came at Swansea City on as they were beaten 1-0 by Luton Town on Tuesday night.

Tickets
Tickets for Saturday’s game are available in advance online and from The Dunes Hotel Stadium which will remain open until 4pm on Friday.

On the day of the game, tickets will be available from 10am from Main Reception (card payment only) and from the Ticket Booth in the Fan Zone from 12noon (cash and card payment).

Click here for all the information you need on buying tickets for Saturday’s game.

Live Streaming
There will be no live stream for fans living in the UK due to the restrictions around Saturday afternoon broadcasting.

However, fans who live abroad will be able to access live footage as normal and can pick up their International Video Match Pass right now for just £10.

Click here to add your Match Pass ahead of kick-off.

Live Commentary
iFollow is the only place that fans can listen to live online commentary of every game this season as we continue our link-up with our friends at BBC Radio Cumbria.

Fans will be able to listen to expert Bluebirds commentator Adam Johnson, who will be joined by John Goodwin to describe all the action as it unfolds against Tranmere Rovers.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow.

Betting
The bookies are making this a close call on Saturday with Barrow rated a 13/8 shot for victory and visiting Tranmere Rovers available at a price of 17/10 and a draw coming in at 2/1.

Click here now to take a look at a full list of markets ahead of this weekend’s game.

Match Reports

Report: Barrow 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

5 February 2022

A photograph of Barrow midfielder Ollie Banks — Barrow midfielder Ollie Banks

Ollie Banks scored against his former club as Barrow claimed a point against in-form Tranmere Rovers at The Dunes Hotel Stadium on Saturday.

Boss Mark Cooper opted to name an unchanged starting eleven following the midweek win at Northampton Town, while new signing Niall Canavan was included among the substitutes.

It became obvious from the first whistle that a strong wind was going to have a big effect on proceedings, and it was the visitors who played into it during the first half.

Due to the conditions, it was a fairly cagey start with good chances at a premium during the early stages though Barrow did enjoy some good possession.

However, on 16 minutes they allowed Rovers midfielder Josh Hawkes far too much space 20 yards out and the former Sunderland man curled an exquisite finish into the bottom corner of the net to hand the visitors a lead.

John Rooney came agonisingly close to marking his return to The Dunes Hotel Stadium with a leveller just before the half hour mark when he met Patrick Brough’s teasing cross, but his header was just too high.

Kieron Morris made something out of nothing when he chased a long ball to the byline and managed to square it for Kane Hemmings who looked set to double Tranmere’s lead only for Tom Beadling to hurl himself in the way with a heroic block.

The Bluebirds continued to play with confidence at times and another lovely move involving Luke James and Rooney saw Ollie Banks whip a testing cross into the area which was glanced just wide of target by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

Rovers then drove forward after winning possession on the halfway line and a powerful shot from Morris picked up a deflection as it flashed across goal and just wide of Farman’s post.

The game changed on 57 minutes when a cross from the left struck a Tranmere hand inside the box and the referee was well placed to point to the penalty spot – Banks stepped up to calmly slide home from 12 yards to bring The Bluebirds level against his former club.

Barrow lost Tom Beadling to injury in the closing stages, which gave Mark Cooper the opportunity to introduce new signing Niall Canavan for his Bluebirds debut.

Farman was forced into an excellent save on 74 minutes when he went full-stretch to his left to keep out a long-range drive from Rovers’ Lee O’Connor.

Banks then slipped an incisive ball through the Tranmere defence to find Rooney who spun smartly and fired off a shot which looked destined for the far corner before Rovers keeper Ross Doohan got a decisive touch.

Moments later there was an even better chance after more good work from James provided Anthony Glennon with the chance to whip an inviting cross into the far post for Amadi-Holloway but he nodded his effort over the bar.

Rovers finished on the front foot and put some testing balls into the Barrow penalty area, but Cooper’s men defended well and claimed a creditable point against their promotion-chasing visitors.

Full Time: Barrow 1 Tranmere Rovers 1

Barrow: Farman, Hutton, Brown, Beadling, Brough, Glennon, Taylor, Banks, Rooney, James (Harris 92), Amadi-Holloway.
Subs: J Jones, Canavan, White, Williams, Wakeling.

Booked: Banks, Brown, Glennon.

Tranmere Rovers: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, MacDonald, Knight-Percival, Morris, Hemmings, Hawkes, Glatzel (Nevitt 93), Foley, O’Connor, Clarke.
Subs: Murphy, Davies, Merrie, Jolley, McManaman, Warrington.

Booked: Dacres-Cogley.

Referee: Oliver Langford

Attendance: 3,699 (629 Tranmere Rovers)

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Tranmere Rovers (H)

4 February 2022

A photograph of Barrow fans celebrating at The Dunes Hotel Stadium — Barrow fans celebrating at The Dunes Hotel Stadium

Barrow return to home soil this weekend with a big game against promotion-chasing Tranmere Rovers so make sure you get your tickets to come and cheer The Bluebirds on.

It’s set to be an exciting afternoon for Barrow supporters with promotion hero John Rooney in line to make his first appearance at The Dunes Hotel Stadium since clinching a sensational return to the Club.

Plus, Niall Canavan – our deadline day signing from Bradford City – is also eligible to make his Bluebirds debut, while Aaron Amadi-Holloway will hope to make his home bow too!

Tickets for the big game against second-placed Rovers – who have sold out their away allocation for Saturday – are on sale now both online and in-person from The Dunes Hotel Stadium.

Heading online is the easiest and quickest way to get your tickets and you can either choose to print them out at home or simply show the QR code from your mobile device at the turnstile on matchday.

Click here now to buy your tickets online for Saturday’s game.

On matchday you can buy from the Ticket Office at Main Reception from 10am (card payment only) and then also from the Ticket Booth in the Fan Zone from 12noon.

Click here now to buy your tickets online for Saturday’s game.