The Bluebirds drew for the fifth time in seven games as this time they shared the points with Rochdale following a hard fought goalless draw at The Crown Oil Arena.

Backed by a boisterous travelling of 608 Bluebirds fans, Barrow gave as good as they got and arguably came closest to breaking the deadlock with an Ollie Banks header which struck the bar.

However, the hosts were more aggressive during the second half and The Bluebirds had to defend with determination and rely on another strong performance from goalkeeper Paul Farman.

Mark Cooper opted to make three changes to his starting line-up as Aaron Amadi-Holloway returned following suspension and Remeao Hutton and George Williams both started with The Bluebirds reverting to four at the back.

There was an early opening when January signing Tahvon Cambpell scampered clear on goal down the left, but Paul Farman charged from his line, made himself big and brilliantly blocked the shot.

The Bluebirds settled into the game well after that scare and began to enjoy some good possession, with Robbie Gotts looking in particularly lively mood down the right.

Farman was called into action again on 12 minutes when Jimmy Keohane engineered an angle to shoot from 20 yards, but his powerful drive was parried away from danger by the Barrow keeper.

More good work from Gotts helped Remeao Hutton into a dangerous position on the right of the area and his drilled cross was sliced up in the air by a defender to cause momentary panic before keeper Jay Lynch did well to claim the ball.

Farman was once again alert when a challenge on the touchline saw the ball inadvertently ricochet into the path of James Ball inside the box, but the Bluebirds stopper was once again out quickly to block the shot with his feed.

Keohane flashed another effort just wide of the upright before Barrow responded through Gotts, who drove towards the edge of the area before playing a one-two with Amadi-Holloway only for the midfielder’s powerful strike to flash just too high to trouble Lynch.

Skipper Ollie Banks, sporting a bandage round his head after a clash earlier in the half, showed the injury wasn’t affecting him when he met a deep John Rooney corner to head on goal, but it crashed into the cross bar and stayed out.

There was a big chance for Dale at the start of the second half when a cross field ball was laid back across goal by Stephen Dooley for Ball to run on to, but he stabbed his shot wastefully wide.

The hosts created another opportunity on 53 minutes when a ball in from the right found Campbell, who took a touch and then tried to hook a shot on goal but sent it off target.

Dale were beginning to get on top and had another opening when Corey O’Keeffe flighted a cross in from the right which was collected by Campbell who turned to shoot but found Farman in his way once more.

The keeper had to get down quickly to prevent Max Clark opening the scoring just after the hour when he met a deep free kick at the back post, but Farman did well to push it behind for a corner.

Barrow had a rare foray into Rochdale territory on 71 minutes when Patrick Brough found space to whip a cross into the area, but Amadi-Holloway could only glance a header wide of the far post.

George Broadbent could have snatched the points for Dale with four minutes left when he ran onto the ball 20 yards out but could only send a shot over Farman’s cross bar.

Full Time: Rochdale 0 Barrow 0

Rochdale: Lynch, O’Keeffe, O’Connell, Dooley (Cashman 79), Ball, Dorsett, Keohane, Broadbent, Done (Newby 64), Clark, Campbell.
Subs not used: Coleman, McNulty, Charman, Grant, Brierley.

Booked: Dorsett.

Barrow: Farman, Hutton (Beadling 73), Canavan, Platt, Brough, Gotts, White (Glennon 64), Banks, Williams (Sea 73), Rooney, Amadi-Holloway.
Subs not used: Stevens, Harris, Gordon.

Booked: Banks, Sea.

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 2,935 (608 Barrow)