Preview: Barrow vs MK Dons - prediction, team news, lineups

Barrow will be looking to pick up their first point of the 2025-26 season when they take on MK Dons in the League Two clash at Holker Street on Saturday.

The Dons are one of the title favourites this season, and they need to improve after their lacklustre 0-0 draw against Oldham Athletic in the previous game.

Match preview

Barrow finished 16th in the league in 2024-25, and they have come a long way under manager Andy Whing, who has made them a competitive force.

Only five years ago, the Bluebirds were promoted to the Football League for the first time in almost half a century, but their mentality to defy the odds is a delight for football romantics.

Barrow operate on a minimal budget, one of the lowest in the English football pyramid, and they borrow the training ground from FC United of Manchester, which is nearly two hours away from the town.

Last season, Barrow went on to lose only one of their final 13 games, and it was like a team transformed under Whing.

They lost 1-0 against Chesterfield in the opening game, though, and need a better performance at home to pick up all three points against the Dons.

Barrow scored only 52 goals last season, and they have bolstered their forward areas by signing experienced striker Tom Barkhuizen, who has had an extensive career in the Championship with Preston North End and Derby County.

The Dons finished 19th in the league last season, conceding 66 goals from 46 games, but they have added depth in the squad this season by signing as many as seven new players.

Paul Warne named a strong side for the season opener, but they failed to break Oldham's resolute defence, as the match ended 0-0.

The forward line was made up of new additions, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy starting on the wing, behind centre-forward Aaron Collins.

They are still reportedly keen to make more signings before the window ends, but the club need to offload some of their existing players to free up the space for new additions.

Barrow League Two form:

MK Dons League Two form:

Team News

Several key players have left Barrow this summer, and Whing has had to reshape the squad again.

Five new players made their debut in the last game, while their latest recruit, Tom Barkhuizen, could only make the bench.

The Dons are currently missing several players due to injuries, with Nathan Thompson, Laurence Maguire, Sam Sherring, Dan Crowley and Scott Hogan all receiving treatment.

Callum Hendry did not even make the bench in the previous game, and it is likely that he could be sold in the coming weeks.

Barrow possible starting lineup:

Stanway; Foley, Canavan, Raglan; Jackson, Smith, Booty, Newby; Mahoney, Harper, Cameron

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

MacGillivray; Jones, Offord, Sanders, Tomlinson; Thompson-Sommers, Gilbey, Kelly; Mendez-Laing, Hepburn-Murphy, Paterson

We say: Barrow 1-0 MK Dons

Barrow tend to raise their levels whenever they face the Dons. In the last season, they did a league double over them, including a 3-0 win away from home, and they are likely to repeat a similar performance on Saturday.

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