Stephen Clemence was delighted with Barrow’s multifaceted performance to beat Grimsby 2-1 and continue their strong start to the Sky Bet League Two campaign.
Sam Foley and Theo Vassell headed in from corners in the first half, before the Mariners responded with a goal just before half-time through Kieran Green. The Bluebirds held on for the three points as Grimsby pushed for an equaliser in the second half.
Clemence felt his team should have been further ahead at the break but was impressed with the resilience they showed in the end.
He said: “I’m really pleased with them, I thought we played really well in the first half and were the dominant team with the only criticism being that we didn’t score more goals with the amount of times we broke forward.
“There were times where we could have capitalised and scored more from open play, but it was nice to score two from set-pieces with both being good finishes.
“We had to work hard in the second half – this is a difficult place to come as the away team and the boys had to show a different side of their game.
“It was a solid performance and they stood firm, Wyll Stanway coming in for his first league game in goal and looking like he had been there for years. We talked to the team (at half-time) about why we had let them back into the game, and we didn’t want to go deep, we wanted to go and score again, which we almost did.”
It was different emotions for Grimsby boss David Artell, who felt his side were not at the races in the first half.
He said: “We weren’t our usual selves, we were insipid and off the pace against a good team who are hard to beat and break down, so when you give them two goals that were exactly the same and play as we did then we are going to have a mountain to climb, whoever it is.
“I can’t explain (the performance) we’ve had a free week to prepare for the game but we’ve also got to remember that we’re talking about League Two footballers, so they’re going to be inconsistent at times.
“However, we demand that they run around and are competitive no matter what, which they weren’t for the first 45 minutes.
“We got a lifeline just before half-time and we were much more competitive in the second half and could have got something out of the game.
“The truth is that we didn’t play for 45 minutes, so we certainly helped them (Barrow) with their game plan because we didn’t entice their press and allowed free headers in our box.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
