Boss Stephen Clemence is ruing his side’s lack of firepower after Barrow fell to a 1-0 loss at Accrington – their fourth defeat in five league games.
Shaun Whalley, 37, fired home on the counter attack in the eighth minute for his third goal of the season to make it three successive wins for Stanley, who were bottom of the table at the start of October.
Barrow only troubled home goalkeeper Billy Crellin in the final stages of the game despite dominating possession.
Clemence said: “This is a very difficult one to take, results aren’t good enough at the moment and we haven’t scored enough goals in recent games.
“Today we have probably had between 10 to 15 shots and only a couple will have hit the target, it’s not enough. We have got to get better.
“I will take responsibility, I tried to mix it up and play something different, I thought we had more bodies in the box and give us more attacking impetus but it hasn’t worked.
“We were the dominant team but if you don’t score goals you don’t win football matches. In the last five league games, we have scored two goals, it’s not enough.
“We are getting into good areas but there is not enough final product and, unless that improves, it will be long hard winter. If we don’t have more punch in our attack it will be difficult.
“I never talk about referees, I think it’s a difficult job, but their goalkeeper has dropped one in the box in the first half and we are through on goal, there is a stonewall penalty which hasn’t been given and there is a red card right in front of me. I have seen them and I am correct.
“They were three poor decisions.”
Stanley boss John Doolan was delighted with a first clean sheet of the season as his side moved further away from the relegation places.
“I am very pleased, the lads were immense,” said Doolan.
“Barrow are a good side, they had a chance to go top of the league, and I said to our lads that we had to win their individual battles and I feel we did.
“The back five were awesome and everyone worked tirelessly. Defensively we were sound.
“The lads have put in such a big shift. They have realised the importance of getting over the line no matter what it takes so I am pleased to get a clean sheet and keep the run going.
“Shaun’s finish was brilliant. Shaun is a machine, he conducts himself right off the pitch and produces what he does on the pitch.
“He is so enthusiastic in everything he does and long may it continue.”
Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged no one at Nottingham Forest expected to be third in April but backed his team to embrace the challenge after they started a huge week with victory at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth in the Premier League after weekend wins for Champions League qualification rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Aston Villa, yet responded with aplomb in the capital.Early efforts...
Chris Wood’s 19th goal of the season fired Nottingham Forest back up to third in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Tottenham.Forest had slipped to sixth after the weekend’s results, but Nuno Espirito Santo savoured a sweet three points against old club Spurs after early goals from Elliot Anderson and Wood in the capital.It brought Ange Postecoglou’s team back down to earth aft...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
- 1 Jordan Bowery earns Mansfield a point at Rotherham
- 2 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 3 Grant McCann to keep Doncaster players calm despite being on brink of promotion
- 4 Mentality and spirit unbelievable – Daniel Farke praises promoted Leeds players
- 5 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 6 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 7 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 8 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 9 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 10 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs