Preview: Barrow v Walsall

4 March 2022

A photograph of The Dunes Hotel Stadium — The Dunes Hotel Stadium

Take a look at everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's game in our comprehensive preview of the action at The Dunes Hotel Stadium.

Barrow v Walsall
Saturday 5^th March 2022, 3pm
The Dunes Hotel Stadium
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Walsall have been on an excellent run of form since making the decision to part ways with former boss Matty Taylor at the beginning of last month.

The Saddlers have taken 10 points from the last available 15 to calm any fears about being dragged into a relegation scrap at the bottom of League Two.

Former Newport County boss Michael Flynn has arrived as their new Head Coach and his focus will be on ensuring that they continue their climb in the table and move into the summer with momentum.

It looked a little perilous for Walsall when they lost seven in a row at the turn of year but impressive victories over Tranmere Rovers and Forest Green Rovers have helped them ease those worries ahead of the run-in.

One To Watch
Connor Wilkinson has run into some good form for The Saddlers in recent weeks and his goals have been one of the factors in their elevation up the League Two table.

The front man has hit the net three times in his last five games, including the equaliser which secured a point at Northampton Town in midweek.

Former Millwall trainee Wilkinson joined Walsall during the summer following a spell at Leyton Orient and he now looks like playing a big part as they aim to finish the season strongly.

Head To Head
The Bluebirds are yet to taste defeat against Walsall since the two clubs renewed rivalries upon Barrow’s return to the Football League at the start of last season.

Two of the three encounters have produced entertaining 2-2 draws, while Barrow took a significant step towards safety last term when Josh Kay’s stunning goal won us all three points at The Banks’s Stadium.

Referee
It will be a first trip of the season to The Dunes Hotel Stadium for Leigh Doughty as he takes charge of our meeting with Walsall on Saturday afternoon.

The official has been on the EFL’s list of referees since the start of 2019/20 and this year has spent much of his time overseeing fixtures in the Championship.

Doughty’s last appointment came at Cardiff City Stadium last weekend when he presided over Premier League hopefuls Fulham’s 1-0 victory over the Welsh outfit.

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 The Saddlers.

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
Barrow have been installed as 11/8 favourites for three points this weekend, while The Saddlers are priced at 15/8 for victory and a draw is available at odds of 9/4 with our friends at Sky Bet.

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

Match Reports

Report: Barrow 1 Walsall 1

5 March 2022

A photograph of Barrow — Barrow's Josh Gordon tries a shot during the game against Walsall

The Bluebirds were once again held to a draw on home soil as John Rooney’s spectacular opener wasn’t enough to see them past Walsall at The Dunes Hotel Stadium.

The midfielder’s curling shot looked to have put Barrow on course for a vital win but Donervon Daniels came up from the back to nod a leveller for The Saddlers in the second half.

Mark Cooper chose to make two changes to his starting eleven as Josh Gordon returned to face his former club and Matt Platt came into the Bluebirds defence.

It was The Saddlers who started the brighter and won a corner almost immediately from kick-off, but Barrow cleared it to the edge of the box from where Liam Kinsella had a shot charged down.

Cooper’s men were thankful to James Jones on nine minutes when a shanked corner from the left somehow deflected through bodies at the near post and almost dropped into the net before the defender’s timely intervention on the line.

However, there was a real intensity to The Bluebirds, and they rarely gave their visitors a chance to settle during a first half in which they improved as time went on.

A looping ball forward was misjudged by Donervon Daniels, whose stumble allowed Gordon a sight of goal but his effort to lift the ball over the advancing Carl Rushworth was unsuccessful and it dropped wide.

There was an unsavoury incident on 20 minutes when Lee Tomlin – making his first start for The Saddlers – appeared to kick out at Ollie Banks off the ball but the officials decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment.

The deadlock was broken ten minutes before the break – and the opening goal was another to add to John Rooney’s back catalogue of stunners. A ball was played square to him 20 yards out and he dropped a shoulder to buy himself a yard before curling a sumptuous shot which struck the inside of the right-hand post before finding the net.

The Bluebirds could even have doubled their lead in first half stoppage time when the impressive Robbie Gotts wriggled his way inside from the right before drilling a shot just too high to trouble Rushworth.

Barrow were first to press at the start of the second half when a long ball was flicked on by Will Harris to Josh Gordon and the front man engineered a shot on goal as he tumbled under a challenge, but the effort was deflected wide of the post.

The Saddlers began to enjoy more of the ball as the second half wore on and they were back on level terms on 67 minutes when a right-wing free kick was swung into the area where Daniels powerfully headed it past Paul Farman for 1-1.

Cooper threw on Jordan Stevens and Remeao Hutton, and the latter almost created an opportunity when he escaped down the right on to Rooney’s incisive pass but the fizzed cross to the front post was brilliantly defended by Walsall.

Walsall substitute Devante Rodney could have snatched three points for his side in injury time when he cut inside from the right, but his powerful left-footed drive was well held by Paul Farman.

Full Time: Barrow 1 Walsall 1

Barrow: Farman, Gotts, J Jones, Canavan, Platt, Brough, Banks, White (Hutton 78), Rooney, Harris (Stevens 78), Gordon.
Subs: Glennon, Taylor, Williams, Wakeling.

Booked: Platt.

Walsall: Rushworth, Daniels, Monthe, Osadebe, Earing, Kinsella, Labadie, Wilkinson, Miller (Rodney 58), Shade, Tomlin (Kiernan 85).
Subs: Rose, Ward, Perry, Menayese, Leak.

Booked: Monthe, Tomlin.

Referee: Leigh Doughty

Attendance: 3,439 (449 Walsall)