Preview: Barrow vs. Accrington Stanley - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides will be hoping to return to winning ways when Barrow host Accrington Stanley on Friday.

Barrow were held 2-2 at home by the League Two leaders Stockport County on Boxing Day, while Accrington lost away to Harrogate Town.

Match preview

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The home side had put together a remarkable winning run of seven league matches ahead of their huge test against Stockport, and they appeared to be making it eight victories in a row when goals from Ben Whitfield and Kian Spence handed them a two-goal lead after 24 minutes.

However, Nick Powell crucially pulled one back for the visitors on the stroke of half time, with Akil Wright's strike nine minutes after the break meaning two of the in-form teams in League Two had to settle for sharing the spoils.

While dropping points from a commanding leading position would have frustrated Pete Wild, the 39-year-old will be delighted by his side's form overall. The Bluebirds had kept five consecutive clean sheets at Holker Street prior to Powell's goal on Boxing Day, catapulting them into the automatic promotion positions in the process.

However, wins for Wrexham and Mansfield Town saw Barrow drop back down to fourth position. As such, Wild will be keen for another clean sheet and victory at their increasing fortress of a stadium on Friday.

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Keeping clean sheets against Accrington is not an easy task though, with John Coleman's side blanking just twice in their last 10 away games in League Two.

However, their 2-1 defeat to Harrogate on Boxing Day means that the 'Owd Reds have claimed just one point from their last four trips on the road. Jack Nolan had provided his side with the lead at Wetherby Road before Jack Muldoon quickly restored parity for the hosts, with George Thomson sending the home fans into delirium by bagging in the third minute of injury time.

Only claiming one win from their last six league games has seen Accrington fall out of the playoff positions in recent weeks, which is where they will be hoping to finish after suffering relegation at the end of last season.

Despite spending five seasons in League One, Coleman's side are still operating on a smaller budget than many teams in England's fourth tier. That is certainly not the case with regards to their forthcoming opponents, though, meaning that they may fancy their chances of causing an upset in Cumbria.

Team News

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Barrow will remain without full-backs Tyrell Warren and Junior Tiensia due to long-term injuries. However, Wild revealed that both players could return within the next few weeks having made significant progress during their respective rehabilitation periods.

Providing that Wild is comfortable with his side's fitness levels despite the short turnaround, he may name the same starting line-up from Boxing Day, with Whitfield continuing in attack after scoring against Stockport.

Accrington, meanwhile, may travel without Rosaire Longelo due to injury once again. The utility man has not featured since being withdrawn against Crewe Alexandra earlier this month due to a recurrence of a hamstring issue.

Coleman only used one substitute during his side's defeat to Harrogate on Boxing Day, with Alex Henderson replacing Shaun Whalley with only four minutes remaining. That suggests that the club's long-serving manager has little faith in his fringe players at present, and he may name an unchanged side as a result.

Barrow possible starting lineup:

Farman; Chester, Ray, Canavan; Stephenson, Spence, Campbell, Gotts, Newby; Telford, Whitfield

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Walsh; O'Brien, Hills, Gubbins, Shipley; Martin, Woods; Whalley, Leigh, Nolan; Woods

We say: Barrow 2-0 Accrington Stanley

The fact that Barrow were left disappointed with a draw against League Two's leaders on Boxing Day shows how far Wild's side have come. Accrington, on the other hand, appear to be trending in a downwards direction at the moment.

As such, we can envisage the Bluebirds securing another clean sheet at home on their way to victory, which could seen them end the calendar year within the automatic promotion positions.

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