Match Preview: Barrow AFC

24 December 2021

The traditional Boxing Day fixture is here as Rovers welcome Barrow to Prenton Park on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets:

With no other professional team playing on Merseyside this weekend, join us for some affordable live football at Prenton Park! Tickets from just £2 online by clicking here

Rovers have won four consecutive league games and are in fine form despite losing in our last outing to Harrogate Town which saw us exit the Papa John’s Trophy.

But with no more competitions to run alongside the league, Micky Mellon can fully focus on maintaining the promotion push with Rovers sitting just one point off the automatic promotion spots.

As for the visitors, Barrow have only won one of their last ten league games, but they did get a very impressive win against League One opposition in Ipswich last time out as they beat them 2-0 in an F.A Cup replay.

Team News:

Paul Glatzel and Nat Knight-Percival are still sidelined with injury whilst Callum McManaman serves the second of his three game ban.

Micky Mellon revealed on Friday that some members of the squad have tested positive for COVID-19 however did not disclose who.

One to Watch: Ollie Banks

A player who Tranmere fans know very well, Ollie Banks has played large parts of his career in the North as he now plays at Holker Street.

He’s featured in the North for the likes of Oldham, Rovers, a host of non-league clubs and now Barrow where he is enjoying a fine first half of the campaign.

Soring nine goals in 25 games from midfield, the 29-year-old is impressing with the Bluebirds and will hope to put on another good performance at Prenton Park.

Manager: Mark Cooper

Vastly experienced at all levels of English football, Mark Cooper took over at Barrow in May after Ian Evatt left his role to take up a job at League One side Bolton Wanderers.

Cooper had a long-playing career, featuring for a whole host of clubs with his longest stints being at Exeter City and Tamworth.

Tamworth ended up being his first managerial appointment before moving up the leagues and has since managed the likes of Swindon Town, Notts County and Forest Green Rovers.

He got Swindon to the League One play-off final in 2015 and had them playing some fantastic football before unfortunately losing to Preston North End at Wembley.

He’s currently got his Barrow side 19^th in Sky Bet League Two but also into the third round of the F.A Cup where they face a trip to Championship side Barnsley.

Match Coverage:

Match passes are available for £10 by clicking here. Every pass purchased benefits Tranmere Rovers.

You can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Barrow

26 December 2021

Tranmere made it five league wins in a row as goals from Nicky Maynard and Kieron Morris saw Rovers beat Barrow 2-0 at Prenton Park.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Rovers made the most of theirs and two clinical finishes resulted in Micky Mellon’s side taking all three points on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers dominated the first half and took the lead inside six minutes as Jay Spearing picked up the ball in the middle of the park and played an inch-perfect pass in behind to Nicky Maynard who slotted past Paul Farman to give Rovers the advantage.

Barrow created a couple of half chances with Robbie Gotts at the centre of the majority of positive things for the visitors in the first half.

Josh Gordon went close with a glancing header just past the 20-minute mark, but that was as close as Barrow could come to scoring in the first period.

Josh Hawkes saw a free kick rise over the bar just past the half-hour before Maynard had another chance with the last action of the half but his header from Kieron Morris’ cross went just wide of the post.

The second half was predominately controlled by the visitors despite never really challenging Ross Doohan in between the sticks.

Tom White came close with a right-footed curling effort which whistled just wide of the far post before having another effort deflected into the hands of the Rovers ‘keeper.

Nicky Maynard had an opportunity in the Barrow box which was charged down before the forward stayed down with an injury which forced him off and saw the introduction of Liam Feeney.

Feeney had an opportunity to double the advantage when he got in behind on the left hand-side but failed to prevent his effort from rising over the crossbar.

But as Barrow looked to try and grab an equaliser, Rovers did finally get their much desired second goal as Kieron Morris got the ball on the right from a great Elliott Nevitt pass and unleashed a shot past Farman who was beaten at his near post and saw Tranmere put the game to bed.

The game drew out to a close with five minutes added on but Rovers stayed professional and managed to see the game out and keep another clean sheet on home soil in Sky Bet League Two.

The fifth league win in a row sees Micky Mellon’s side rise to 3^rd in the table, currently occupying the final automatic promotion spot.

Tranmere team: Doohan, O'Connor, Clarke, Davies, MacDonald, Morris, Spearing (Merrie 75'), Foley, Hawkes (Watson 75'), Maynard (Feeney 66'), Nevitt

Unused subs: Murphy, Hayde, Duffy, Burton