Agree with this. In hindsight Saunders speed was our only real threat and they weren't prepared for it. In the 2nd minute he was through on his left peg and the keeper was off his line, a decent chip and it's in he put in a tame shot. That was the match really.I thought it was a solid performance and we deserved a draw.
The match was essentially a midfield stalemate, with both sides creating very little and looking very strong defensively. I personally think Adkins got the tactics right, with the one moment of quality the hosts produced ending up in the back of the net, whereas the one moment of quality we produced (from Hawkes) hit the post. They are the fine margins of football sometimes.
Barrow have an excellent home record and are only one point behind Wrexham and three behind Stockport for a reason. Yes, they did not show much quality in the final third today, but that is largely down to our defensive organisation. Barrow were strongest down their left side through Newby, and I think Adkins did not want to play Hawkes ahead of O'Connor on that wing and leave him exposed defensively, given Josh's reluctance to track back. Hawkes might have come on earlier, but when O'Connor went off injured it probably would not have been a good idea to play Hawkes ahead of the left-footed, out of position Norris.
It was noticeable that the winning goal came down our right, with McAlear and Norris failing to get tight enough to Newby.
We definitely missed Apter's dynamism in the final third, but some of our attacking play was decent up until the eighteen yard box and we simply struggled to break Barrow down due to their organisation at the back. It was always going to be a completely different game to Notts County.
Individually, I thought the centre halves and Hendry were very good and Morris again linked well with Wood.
We responded to the Walsall defeat with a victory in the following game, and it is important we do the same next week.
I thought exactly the same Boz when Nigel said McAlear was superb. I didn’t see the game but from what I’ve read that wasn’t the case. You know what Nigel is like though!!I'm not sure would endorse Nigel's assessment that Reece McAlear was superb and RLC makes a valid point about the marking in the build up to the winning goal. James Norris did do an excellent track-back and tackle, otherwise the Barrow player was one on one against McGee.
The next game is the last of 3 toughies against promotion contenders. Milton Keynes have a highly-rated young manager and one of the wealthier clubs in L2 so a challenging game ahead.
That’s a shame as he’s been in good form. An opportunity for Pike now.Rumours that O'Connor broken a toe and will be out for a while
Now this raises something which puzzles me. Subs come do nothing wrong get dropped from bench. Other substantial players appear on the bench don't get on and get dropped. Is Nigel doing some curious keep everyone a bit happy management here and not actually selecting on pure merit?Rumours that O'Connor broken a toe and will be out for a while
We haven't play 442 apart from when Norris played with Dennis. We play 4411, Saunders is always beyond Jennings when out of possession understandably. I don't think Nigel will do anything on a whim but injuries may lead to it. Let's face it McAlear for Apter was a far bigger change than many numerical orders.No way Nigel will stray from 4-4-2 anytime soon. Why would you after our recent form? Likely that either Pike or Yarney will play RB, or even McAlear at a push
I think we did well. The shape was good and it is clear the lads know their roles - Credit to Nigel.I thought it was a solid performance and we deserved a draw.
The match was essentially a midfield stalemate, with both sides creating very little and looking very strong defensively. I personally think Adkins got the tactics right, with the one moment of quality the hosts produced ending up in the back of the net, whereas the one moment of quality we produced (from Hawkes) hit the post. They are the fine margins of football sometimes.
Barrow have an excellent home record and are only one point behind Wrexham and three behind Stockport for a reason. Yes, they did not show much quality in the final third today, but that is largely down to our defensive organisation. Barrow were strongest down their left side through Newby, and I think Adkins did not want to play Hawkes ahead of O'Connor on that wing and leave him exposed defensively, given Josh's reluctance to track back. Hawkes might have come on earlier, but when O'Connor went off injured it probably would not have been a good idea to play Hawkes ahead of the left-footed, out of position Norris.
It was noticeable that the winning goal came down our right, with McAlear and Norris failing to get tight enough to Newby.
We definitely missed Apter's dynamism in the final third, but some of our attacking play was decent up until the eighteen yard box and we simply struggled to break Barrow down due to their organisation at the back. It was always going to be a completely different game to Notts County.
Individually, I thought the centre halves and Hendry were very good and Morris again linked well with Wood.
We responded to the Walsall defeat with a victory in the following game, and it is important we do the same next week.
I was at the game and in the first half, we were defending the goal where the SWA were gathered and our fans were either behind or at the side of the right hand side of our line-up. Few, if any, were expecting McAlear to replicate Apter's attacking play, although his attacking contributions were minimal, but I was certainly expecting better defensively from Reece. He didn't cope well and was pulled out of position or beaten regularly in the opening stages. It was worth trying, but hopefully to be classed as an experiment that didn't work and Adkins to try something else.I did see the game and McAlear, a player I had given up on, was very good. The test was what came down their left flank and the result was a very little. If you expected him to do an Apter, I believe that is a bit unrealistic. Hawkes may have got more crosses in but to no one really. When Hawkes plays, Morris switches and so yesterday our left flank would have been weaker; all a game of cards. I'd expect that switch next home game when Dennis should be back.
The goal was nodded back into central midfield where again we allowed a hole to appear on occasions. Walker reads the game well and tends to be where needed, Hendry responds with urgency but I suspect the crude tackle on him early on may have hampered him throughout. Anyway given a few loose seconds the striker hit a peach that you don't see often in this league or on such a pudding of a pitch, c'est la vie.
McAlear and Norris had both played well in their preferred positions when featuring in the previous two games. The primary argument for recalling Walker and Wood was their experience. I thought Wood had a good game and deserved his return to the team. Norris had played right-back in one of the local cup competitions, so could also be said to cover both full-backs and he can play left/central midfield. Having someone as versatile on the bench makes sense. Though agree with the point you make about sub selection generally.Now this raises something which puzzles me. Subs come do nothing wrong get dropped from bench. Other substantial players appear on the bench don't get on and get dropped. Is Nigel doing some curious keep everyone a bit happy management here and not actually selecting on pure merit?
Unless Pike wasn't available yesterday, it was very odd to drop him. He covers both full backs and while Norris did well, he could be an accident waiting to happen at right back.
Was actually expecting the bigger Yarney on yesterday. I actually wonder whether a back five maybe tried?
I was thinking long before the goal, Hendry was off the pace. However as you point out, those circs might make his natural 90 min shift nigh impossible. We fell to ground about five times in their box, Jolley, Morris and Jenno might have been the telling factor- the mud more than Ray!!Hard to believe an injury in the previous half would impair Regan's ability to get to Campbell before he got the shot off towards the end of the next half. I think he just got caught napping. Maybe tiredness mental/physical in a hard game on a dodgy pitch.
Many positives to take out of it though.
Still in Lancashire back then!That pitch was dodgy when I went to Barrow over 50 years ago! I recall that the coach seemed to take for ever to get there along the coastal road! We lost!