Following Saturday’s defeat to Mansfield Town, Rovers make their longest away trip of the League Two season with a clash at Barrow on Tuesday night.
Our hosts are currently enjoying their best League Two campaign to date, sitting just one point off the automatic spots in fourth, as the Bluebirds look to achieve a historic promotion to the third tier.
IN THE DUGOUT - PETE WILD
After guiding Barrow to their highest ever League Two finish (ninth) in his first season, Wild is looking to go one better this time, with the club currently occupying fourth place.
Barrow have gone from strength to strength in recent years. Ian Evatt led them to the National League title in 2020 as they tasted the Football League for the first time since 1972, but Wild is taking the Cumbria-based side to new heights.
Before taking over at Barrow, Wild was in charge at National League side FC Halifax Town, where he led the Shaymen to the play-offs in two of his three seasons in charge. He boasted a win percentage of 49% during his time with the West Yorkshire outfit.
He never played the game professionally, but Wild has been coaching for nearly two decades, making a name for himself at hometown club Oldham Athletic.
JANUARY BUSINESS
Barrow's only addition of the January transfer window was a significant one, bringing in Cole Stockton on loan from Burton Albion.
Stockton is proven at the level above, scoring 34 goals across his last two full seasons in League One. In the 21-22 campaign, only Will Keane and Ross Stewart scored more goals in the third tier than Stockton, who was then at Morecambe.
The last time the 29-year-old found himself in the fourth tier, he scored 13 goals to help fire Morecambe to promotion via the play-offs.
Playing alongside former League Two golden boot winner Dom Telford, Stockton will be hoping to get another promotion under his belt with the Bluebirds.
Ged Garner and Courtney Duffs both left the club on loan last month to join Morecambe and Hartlepool United respectively.
LAST FIVE RESULTS
10.02.24 - AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Barrow (Curtis 16’, Bugiel 26’)
03.02.24 - Barrow 1-0 MK Dons (Stockton 78’)
27.01.24 - Notts County 1-1 Barrow (Nermane 45+1’) (Spence 22’)
20.01.24 - Barrow 1-3 Crewe Alexandra (Gotts 9’) (Nevitt 19’, Billington 64’, Holicek 84’)
13.01.24 - Sutton United 2-2 Barrow (Beautyman 44’, 52’) (Whitfield 36’, Canavan 73’)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
24.10.23 - Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Barrow (Foley 4’, Telford 18’)
15.04.22 - Barrow 4-0 Forest Green Rovers (Grayson 5’, Rooney 38’, Platt 53’, Amadi-Holloway)
23.11.21 - Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Barrow (Stevens 61’, 83’)
27.04.21 - Forest Green Rovers 0-2 Barrow (Quigley 18’, Thomas 25’)
21.11.20 - Barrow 2-2 Forest Green Rovers (James 73’, Angus 83’) (Whitehouse 52’, Cadden 90+6)
