Fleetwood Town's outside chances of making the League Two playoffs could finally be ended when they welcome Barrow to Highbury Stadium on Friday.

The Fishermen will be looking to bounce back after consecutive defeats, while the Bluebirds will be hoping to make it three wins on the trot this week.

Match preview

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Pete Wild's Fleetwood began the month of April with a 4-1 win over relegation-threatened Accrington Stanley, a result that moved them to within six points of the playoffs and marked the second match in a row that they had managed to score four goals in.

However, the Fishermen followed up those victories with a 4-0 thrashing on their own turf at the hands of Swindon Town, and a 3-0 defeat most recently on the road to Chesterfield.

Dropping six points in their last two games has left Wild's side 10 points behind seventh-placed Grimsby Town, effectively putting a stop to their dreams of promotion given that only four games remain in the League Two calendar.

That being said, Friday's hosts' shocking loss against Swindon was their first at Highbury Stadium since January, and they will be feeling confident of adding to their tally this time around in front of a home crowd.

On the other hand, Fleetwood preceded that defeat with four consecutive draws at their own ground, and even defying their form to take all three points will not be enough to keep their slim hopes alive should Grimsby match their result this week.

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Meanwhile, Andy Whing's Barrow are enjoying their strongest form of the campaign ahead of this week's clash, having won five, drawn three and lost just one of their last nine games.

Most recently, the Bluebirds followed up a 3-0 away victory against MK Dons by beating third-placed Walsall 2-0 last Saturday thanks to Aaron Pressley's third goal in two games and a stoppage-time closer from substitute Emile Acquah.

Those back-to-back wins have Whing's men 15th in the table, where they are just one point behind their opponents and are well-positioned to build on their progress with ambitions of promotion in 2025-26.

In the here and now, Friday's visitors have been particularly strong on the road in recent weeks, and their record of three wins and two draws from their last five away from home suggests that they are likely to put in another impressive performance against the Fishermen.

Adding to this feeling is the fact that Barrow have kept three clean sheets in their last five games overall, including in their two most recent away matches, and if they can remain defensively solid once again, then three points could see the Bluebirds leapfrog Bromley, Fleetwood and Swindon, moving them up to 12th.

Team News

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After blanking in consecutive matches, Fleetwood's frontline of Louie Marsh, Owen Devonport and Danny Mayor will be looking to fire their side back to winning ways on Friday.

Similarly, the Fishermen have conceded seven goals in their last two, so centre-backs Rhys Bennett and Finley Potter, as well as full-backs Shaun Rooney and Mackenzie Hunt, will be desperate to keep their first clean sheet in five games.

As for Barrow, Whing is likely to stick with the XI that earned all three points against Walsall, so expect to see striker Pressley backed up by Connor Mahoney, while Ben Jackson and Elliot Newby provide width from wing-back.

Elsewhere, Isaac Fletcher, Dean Campbell and Robbie Gotts should be patrolling the middle third, with Sam Foley, Niall Canavan and Kyle Cameron operating in a back three in front of goalkeeper Wyll Stanway.

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Bennett, Potter, Hunt; Virtue-Thick, Neal, Helm; Marsh, Devonport, Mayor

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Stanway; Foley, Canavan, Cameron; Jackson, Fletcher, Campbell, Gotts, Newby; Mahoney; Pressley

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We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Barrow

Fleetwood may have lost two on the bounce ahead of this week's game, but their home record suggests that they will be tough to best at Highbury Stadium.

In the same vein, Barrow have been impressive on the road in recent weeks, and they are unlikely to be beaten on Friday, so expect a close-fought clash.


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