Two of the most in-form sides in League Two meet at Holker Street on Saturday, when Barrow host Tranmere Rovers.
Barrow may be faltering slightly, but Tranmere finished 2023 in supreme fashion, and picked up where they left off on New Year's Day.
Match preview
© Reuters
It may seem harsh to say that Barrow have fallen off slightly, considering that defeat to Wrexham on New Year's Day was their first in 15 games, but it was a result that had been coming.
Barrow are now winless in three after also drawing their final two games of 2023, and they now face another side in top form.
The hosts were, for an extended period, the side to beat in League Two, as a seven-game winning streak catapulted them up the table in the midst of that unbeaten run.
Pete Wild's side were briefly in an automatic promotion spot in the top three, but that defeat to Wrexham now means they are four points adrift of Phil Parkinson's men.
A recent drop in form has not damaged their hopes of promotion, though, as they remain fourth with a healthy cushion inside the top seven.
Home matches have been a very reliable source of points all season for Barrow too, as their only defeat at Holker Street came with a heavily-rotated side against Blackpool in the EFL Trophy early in the campaign.
Fewer draws and more wins would be preferred though if they are to maintain a challenge for automatic promotion, as their 13 home games have yielded just six wins.
After a dreadful start had Tranmere fearing a relegation battle, manager Nigel Adkins has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Walsall are the only side to have beaten Rovers in their last 10 league games, as they are currently on a run of four straight wins.
In that 10-game stretch, no team in League Two has won more points than Tranmere's 23, with Barrow matching them in that regard, and Adkins's side are also the highest scorers in that period with 24.
That goal tally has been helped greatly by 5-1 and 4-2 wins over Salford City and Notts County, respectively, since Christmas, with the latter being a very eye-catching result which suggests they could continue to rise up the standings.
Tranmere can also take confidence from the fact they have a very strong record against Barrow, having won five of their nine previous meetings, but they did lose 2-1 in the reverse fixture on the opening day.
Team News
Tyrell Warren failed a late fitness test to feature against Wrexham earlier in the week, but his return to the Barrow side should not be too far away.
Fellow defender Junior Tiensia is the only other absentee for the hosts heading into this one, as he has not featured since picking up an injury against MK Dons in mid-October.
Ben Whitfield has been the man-in-form despite a tricky spell for Barrow, as he is their top scorer this season with six, with four of those goals coming in their last four games, including two in their last win which came against Crewe Alexandra before Christmas.
Similarly for Tranmere, they have most of their squad available to them for this encounter, with Kristian Dennis and Jean Leroy-Belehouan the only absentees.
Despite a high tally of 42 goals so far in the league, Tranmere have spread their goals around, with nobody yet into double figures.
Connor Jennings currently tops the Tranmere charts though with nine, helped by the brace he notched in that impressive win over Notts County, despite also missing a penalty.
Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Chester, Ray, Canavan; Worrall, Spence, White, Foley, Newby; Acquah, Whitfield
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; O'Connor, Davies, Turnbull, Norris; Apter, McAlear, Hendry, Morris; Jennings, Saunders
We say: Barrow 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
Despite a heavy defeat to Wrexham, Barrow have still performed well in some difficult games during their three-match winless run.
Even though Tranmere are 11 places below Barrow heading into this one, they will still fancy their chances given recent form, and it could be a tight encounter.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
