Barrow AFC vs. Latics

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 23

29 December 2021

Latics travel to Barrow in the search and the need of three points in Sky Bet League Two tonight (7:45pm KO).

They will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Boundary Park against fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United last time out.

Despite taking the lead through Benny Couto, Oldham suffered a second-half collapse that saw them go on to lose 3-1, condemning them to last place in the table.

Form Guide

Latics’ opponents have won one of their previous six outings in the league, a 2-0 win over Swindon Town earlier on the month.

Ticket News

08122021 Barrow Ticket News

27 December 2021

In their boxing day game, they fell to a 2-0 defeat to promotion hopefuls Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

They have managed to progress into the third round of the Emirates FA Cup after beating Banbury in the first round and Ipswich Town in the second.

Just like Oldham, they had a replay against the Tractor Boys, but they managed to beat the League One side at the second time of asking.

Barrow currently sit 19^th in the table, six points better off than the 'boys in blue'.

The Bluebirds’ Last Six:

Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Barrow
Barrow 2-0 Ipswich (FA Cup Second round replay)
Barrow 2-0 Swindon Town
Ipswich 0-0 Barrow (FA Cup second round)
Sutton United 1-0 Barrow
Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Barrow

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 53

Latics wins: 22
Barrow wins: 26
Draws: 5

Scored - 82
Conceded- 91

Latics will be hoping for a more positive outcome than the last time they faced Barrow.

Earlier on in the season, Barrow secured a comfortable win at Boundary Park with former Oldham man Ollie Banks amongst the scorers in a 3-0 romp.

The last time that Latics won against Barrow was November 2020 in a seven-goal thriller at Holker Street.

Oldham came from behind as loanee Ben Garrity restored parity, and then, Danny Rowe put them ahead just before the interval.

Rowe got his second from the penalty spot in the 82^nd minute before late drama saw both sides add a goal in stoppage time, making the final score 4-3.

Familiar Faces

Ollie Banks played 40 league games for Oldham in his two-year spell in Greater Manchester.

Ollie Banks.jpg

The 29-year-old signed for Oldham from Chesterfield, where he had been for a few years following a number of spells at non-league sides including FC United of Manchester.

Banks had two loan spells whilst at Latics, going to Tranmere Rovers and Swindon Town.

He joined his current club Barrow in January 2021.

Banks is enjoying a very good season for the Bluebirds and has an impressive nine goals to his name in all competitions already.

Elsewhere defender Connor Brown also has spent time as an Oldham player.

Connor Brown - Two.jpg

The defender made 98 appearances for the club in total between 2012 and 2016.

The Sheffield-born player began his career with Sheffield United, but he struggled to get a chance and was sent out on loan to Eastwood Town and Hinckley United before his permanent transfer to Boundary Park.

After departing Oldham, the also now 29-year-old turned out for Guiseley and York City before he joined Barrow.

In The Dugout

Mark Cooper is the man in the dugout for the hosts.

Mark Cooper.jpg

Cooper was appointed boss at Barrow in late May 2021, following a short spell unemployed following his departure from Forest Green Rovers.

He was the manager at Forest Green Rovers when they clinched their historic promotion to the EFL.

The 52-year-old has also been in charge at Tamworth, Kettering Town, Peterborough United, Darlington, AFC Telford, Swindon Town and Notts County.

Stadium

The Dunes Hotel Stadium (Holker Street)

Barrow AFC.jpg

Capacity: 5,400

Opened: 1909

Record attendance: 16,874 (vs Swansea City 1954)

Match Officials

The official in the middle for the game is Benjamin Speedie.

Benjamin Speedie.jpg

Speedie last officiated a Latics game in October 2021 as we played out a goalless draw with Carlisle United at Brunton Park. On that day, he handed out one yellow card and zero red cards.

He's taken charge of 21 games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 61 yellow cards and two red cards.

Speedie will be assisted by Chris Isherwood and Peter Gooch, with Paul Marsden as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Barrow are favourites for the League Two clash, priced at 10/11.

Latics are 14/5 to claim maximum points on the road whilst 5/2 is available on the draw.

Please gamble responsibly by clicking here. For more information visit: www.begambleaware.org

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

28122021 Barrow iFollow Match Pass

28 December 2021

Live match action on the £10 'match pass' is available on iFollow Latics in the UK and overseas for supporters who can't attend in person, with Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown talking you through the match action.

For more information, visit the iFollow Latics page by clicking here.

Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.

Match Reports

Barrow 0-0 Latics

29 December 2021

The final game of the calendar year ended in stalemate for Latics as they were unable to find a way to goal at Barrow.

Although Selim Benachour’s side will reflect on a number of chances in the opening stages, they struggled for meaningful opportunities and lacked a cutting edge at Holker Street.

The Interim Head Coach reflected on a solid all-round performance to earn a clean sheet but the visitors could not make a meaningful impression in attack.

Benachour made five changes from the Boxing Day game against Scunthorpe, as Sam Hart, Jordan Charle and Harrison McGahey returned to a reshaped back-line, while Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jamie Hopcutt featured in attack.

Latics created the clearest chances throughout the first half whilst carrying a threat from wide areas but they were unable to capitalise.

Keillor-Dunn had two sights of goal, shooting wide from Clarke’s cross before cleverly creating space on the left and sending in a dangerous effort which was gathered by Farman.

The attacking midfielder also had a shot blocked by Conor Brown after receiving a cross from Nicky Adams as Latics continued their bright start but failed to build on that promise.

Latics breathed two sighs of relief midway through the half. They had Jayson Leutwiler to thank for a superb show of agility, the goalkeeper readjusting himself to touch wide a low drive from Mike Jones as his effort took a deflection on its way towards goal.

And then it was the turn of Piergianni to make a crucial intervention, scraping the ball off the goal-line after a towering header at the far post from Patrick Brough, who climbed highest to connect with a Jordan Stevens cross.

By the time the second half started, the home side had started to have a greater share of the territory but Latics continued to carry most of the danger.

From a free-kick won by the perseverance of Sam Hart with a charging run down the left, Adams sent in an inviting delivery which Piergianni reached, only to glance a header wide.

Minutes later, Adams went for goal with a free-kick from 35 yards but a deflection took his effort away from the target.

As the game started to open up, substitute Ozzy Zanzala shot wide before Leutwiler got down low again to turn the ball away after a scramble in the Latics box.

In an effort to re-establish Latics’ attacking threat, Benachour introduced Jamie Bowden and Jack Stobbs from the bench.

The visitors broke dangerously through Clarke, who raced away down the right before finding Hallam Hope. The striker found the angle for a shot but his curling effort went just past the far post.

Although Whelan had a sight of goal with the second ball from an Adams free-kick, the visitors were unable to apply the late pressure that was needed.

Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Clarke, Hart, McGahey, Piergianni, Adams, Whelan, Hope, Keillor-Dunn (Stobbs 80), Diarra (Couto 90), Hopcutt (Bowden 70).

Subs not used: Rogers, Vaughan, Bahamboula, Luamba.

Barrow: Farman, Brown, Brough, Platt, Jones (Zanzala 46), Gordon, White, Gotts (Beadling 72), Grayson (Kay 46), Arthur, Stevens.

Subs not used: Lillis, Ellis, Hutton.

Referee: Ben Speedie

Attendance: 3,495 (466 away).

Ticket News

Barrow AFC (A) Tickets & Travel

27 December 2021

Ticket and travel information for the away fixture at Holker Street (The Dunes Hotel Stadium) against Barrow AFC (Wednesday 29 December - 7:45pm KO).

Tickets for the game up in Cumbria over the festive period will go on sale to Season Ticket holders from 10am on Thursday 9 December at one ticket per person for a priority period of a week.

Please input the 13-digit number below the barcode on the back of your Season Card to sign in and register online. The number can be found at the bottom where the name and seat details are displayed.

Any unsold tickets will then go on general sale from Thursday 16 December at 10am. Tickets will go off sale the day before the game on Tuesday 28 December at 3pm.

The club has received an allocation of 112 seating tickets and 534 standing tickets with 69 left of the seating and 400 standing (as of 16th December at 10am).

Tickets purchased in advance are priced at:

	Seating	Standing
Adult	£19	£16
Senior (65+)	£15	£14
Under 18	£6	£5
Under 7	Free	Free

Tickets can be purchased online, by clicking here.

If there are any remaining tickets, supporters will be able to purchase them on the day of the match from the Ticket Office at Barrow. Prices will increase by £1 per age category and payment is by cash and card at a designated point before going to the turnstile. Any uncollected tickets will also be sent to Barrow for collection.

For wheelchair access and tickets, please contact Barrow direct on 01229 666010.

Coach Travel

Coach travel is also available again for supporters at the following prices. A 49-seater has been arranged but is dependent on sales with a departure time of 4pm from Boundary Park.