Andy Whing sprang to Mat Sadler’s defence despite an end-of-game rebuke from his best friend following Barrow’s deserved 2-0 win over faltering promotion contenders Walsall.
Aaron Pressley and Emile Acquah netted the goals as the Cumbrians’ recent revival stretched to one defeat in nine games.
Walsall, with only two wins from a possible 17, did not manage a shot on target, with a poor Ellis Harrison header their best effort before the break.
The rival bosses are great friends and went to school together.
“He just told me I am a rubbish best friend,” said Whing, who admits the season is coming to an end too soon for his impressive outfit.
“I will take it. And I am not sure about their crowd booing halfway through the first half.
“They are in the top three and need to get behind the team. It is ridiculous the stick he gets sometimes.
“I hope they go up but this was all about us winning. I thought we looked comfortable the whole game.
“They had one chance because of our own doing. That could have changed the game had it gone in even though we wouldn’t have deserved it because we should have been two or three up.”
Barrow’s late charge has come too late to make a push for the play-offs, a statistic acknowledged by Whing.
“I am gutted the season is running out the form we are in,” he said. “But hopefully we can maintain this momentum going into next season.”
Pressley netted his third goal in two games and fourth of the season after 23 minutes, firing home after Tommy Simkin saved his first effort. Substitute Acquah scored a stoppage-time clincher after good work by Elliot Newby.
On his team’s latest setback, Sadler said: “The opening 30 minutes were disappointing. We were waiting for something to happen and not being on the front foot.
“It was below our standards. You give them the first goal and Barrow are very good at sitting back and defending. So, it was always going to be important.
“Ellis’s chance was probably our only real clear-cut chance.
“I am not going to hide from the fact it wasn’t the performance we wanted.
“We have to show resolve, resilience and heart that we have shown countless times. We have had a couple of poor performances on the trot and we want to turn that around.
“But we have put ourselves in this position to be disappointed because of what we have done so far. We cannot lose sight of that and where we are. The opportunities that are still there are big.”
[(Shimizu S-Pulse) Weakness]: 1. Shimizu S-Pulse are 13th in the J1 League table. Facing 2nd-placed Kashima Antlers, they will find it hard to win this match due to their declining form, indicating doubtful motivation.2. Shimizu S-Pulse defender Yuji Takahashi and forward Sena Saito will miss this league game due to injuries.3. Shimizu S-Pulse were winless with 2 draws and 3 losses in the last 5 g...
Liverpool table fresh Guehi bidAccording to The Athletic, Liverpool have submitted a fresh bid worth £35 million ($47m) to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. The Reds had earlier seen two bids rejected by the Eagles, but they remain hopeful that this time the offer will be accepted.Fenerbahce eyeing move for EdersonTurkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are eyeing a move for out-of-favour Manc...
Roma medical for Liverpool fullback TsimikasAS Roma are holding a medical for Kostas Tsimikas today.The Liverpool fullback is leaving Anfield after finding himself third-choice this season behind fellow left-backs Andrew Robertson and Milos Kerkez.La Gazzetta dello Sport says the Greece international is expected in Italy today to finalise his move.Tsimikas will undergo a medical ahead of signing a...
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-FULHAMMarco Silva has demanded an explanation from the Premier League after lambasting three "shocking" refereeing decisions in Fulham's 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea.WHAT HAPPENED?The Whites thought they had taken the lead against their west London rivals Chelsea when 18-year-old Josh King coolly slotted past Robert Sanchez. However, the goal was chalked off by referee Rob...
[(Shonan Bellmare) Strength]: 1. Shonan Bellmare are one of the bottom teams in the table, taking 25 points and being in the relegation zone. They are strongly motivated to grab points.[(Shonan Bellmare) Neutral]: 1. Shonan Bellmare drew the last 4 home games, revealing mediocre home performances.[(Shonan Bellmare) Weakness]: 1. Shonan Bellmare lost 1-0 to Fagiano Okayama on the road in the last g...
Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League Final 2025Chelsea have completed the signing of Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.WHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause, Goal understands. The 21-year-old ha...
Marc Guehi Crystal Palace 2025-26Liverpool have launched a fresh bid for Marc Guehi as they hope that Crystal Palace will finally accept their proposal and agree to sell their star defender before the summer transfer window closes on Monday. The Reds have been linked with a move for the England international throughout the summer and the champions are determined to secure his signature.WHAT HAPPEN...
West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season FriendlyAston Villa are close to signing West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.WHAT HAPPENED?Villa are on the brink of agreeing a £47 million (€54m/$63m) package for Paqueta which includes a loan fee and add-ons, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report also states the 28-year-old has ac...
[(Nagoya Grampus) Strength]: 1. Nagoya Grampus currently have only 28 points and are near the bottom of the league table. To avoid relegation, they need to earn points.[(Nagoya Grampus) Neutral]: 1. Nagoya Grampus' 7 successive games ended with OVER.[(Nagoya Grampus) Weakness]: 1. Nagoya Grampus lost 2-4 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in their last Emperor's Cup game, with poor performance.2. In the lates...
Cody Gakpo Liverpool 2025Premier League champions Liverpool have confirmed that star attacker Cody Gakpo has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract, which has extended his stay at Anfield beyond 2028. The Dutchman who joined the club in January 2023, during the Jurgen Klopp era, has established himself as a regular starter under new boss Arne Slot and has now committed his future to the Reds...
