Matchday Highlight: Barrow v Mansfield Town – News

It’s back to Sky Bet League Two this weekend where Barrow prepares for a visit to in-form Mansfield Town.

The Stags pulled away from danger and moved up the standings, but could the Bluebirds claim victory when the two teams face off this weekend in our featured kickoff?

📅 Match Details

Kick off at Dunes Hotel Stadium, home of the Cumbrian Club, is at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22.

Arbitrator Samuel Barrot was appointed as the middle man, alongside the assistant referees Steven Rushton and David Avent, and fourth official Joe Simpson.

👔 At the controls

Boss of the Bluebirds Mark Cooper spent a successful five years at Forest Green Rovers before arriving in Cumbria – from guiding the club to the EFL for the first time in their history to nearly winning promotion to the Sky Bet League One, suffering defeat in the Play-Offs just two years later.

Following his departure from the fully loaded New Lawn, Cooper’s next club became Barrow in May 2021, having managed over 400 games at EFL level with Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Notts County and Forest Green.

Meanwhile, the Mansfield manager Nigel Clough celebrated his first birthday at One Call Stadium in November and with his team progressing and breaking into the Play-Offs spots, the Stags boss can look back on what he has achieved with a sense of accomplishment.

The 55-year-old inherited a Stags side sitting just above the League Two drop zone, but the former Sheffield United and Burton Albion boss has reversed his fortunes, with Mansfield now pleading to be promotion candidates.

🔑 Key Man

It’s fair to say that Ollie Banks has developed a knack for scoring the spectacular, but the Barrow striker has proven he has both quality and quantity, with seven goals in 21 league appearances this season taking him top of the league goalscoring charts Barrow.

A target when the two teams last met in October, the 29-year-old scored the game winner from the spot in a 1-0 triumph for the Bluebirds which extended the Stags’ winless run.

Fresh off signing new terms with Mansfield which keeps the midfielder at One Call Stadium until summer 2024, John-Joe O’Toole became a Stags player in October, arriving in Nottinghamshire as a free agent on a short-term deal.

The 33-year-old, who spent last season on the books at Burton Albion, impressed during that spell as Mansfield staged promotion, scoring twice in nine league appearances. And his arrival sparked the Stags’ revival of form, with O’Toole winning seven out of eight since joining the club.

📈 Form Guide

Barrow sits just outside the drop zone, while Mansfield currently sits seventh and last in the Play-Offs.

Despite mixed form, the Bluebirds enter the showpiece following a resolute display against Colchester United. Cooper’s side sealed a 2-0 win over the U’s last weekend – a result that could give them the confidence they need to take on top-flight Mansfield.

After dropping out of the midweek Stags’ League Two clash with top-flight Forest Green Rovers, Mansfield will be eager to hit the road for the first time since November and extend his impressive six-game winning streak.

However, Clough’s side have been deemed insufficient away from home, despite their campaign turning around, with just two wins from nine on their travels this season – lacking form the hosts could take advantage of.

Keep up to date with live match updates from this weekend’s feature game by following @SkyBetLeagueTwo on Twitter.

Comments are closed.