Barrow striker Jacob Blyth is relishing the visit of promotion contenders Leyton Orient tonight. The Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last three home games against the top five and Blyth is excited about the challenge of Orient. Speaking to nwemail.co.uk “we fancy ourselves against anyone in this league – we feel we can beat everyone so it’s one we are looing forward to”.

• Sit 12th on 46 points 
• One win in last eight games – W1  D5  L2
• League Record – P35  W12  D10  L13  F35  A38

Barrow’s Last Three Home Games against Top Five

Barrow will be looking to bounce back from their firs defeat in six games after a 3-1 away loss at Barnet on Saturday. Goals from Elliot Johnson, Shaquile Coulthirst and a Dan Jones own goal gave the Bees the points before Kyle Jameson grabbed a consolation goal late on. Manager Ian Evatt was left disappointed by his sides start at Barnet stating to barrowafc.co.uk “anyone can play when you’re 3-0 nil down, it’s easy to step up to the plate then with nothing to lose, it has to be from minute one. It wasn’t acceptable”.

Barrow’s Last Six Results

The Bluebirds scored only their third goal of 2019 on Saturday and Blyth highlights that the side will hope to build on the ending of the game on Saturday. Blyth who has not found the net since December 29th stated to nwemail.co.uk “we’ve just got to start making better decisions in the final third, myself included and hopefully it will click soon. We’ll dust ourselves off and get ready for Tuesday”.

• Scored 21/35 league goals in second half
• Scored 19 in final 30 minutes of matches
• Seven of their last nine goals have been in second period
• Conceded 25/38 in second period
• Ten have been conceded between 46-60 minutes

Evatt’s side have prided themselves on their recent defensive record conceding just seven goals in 2019. Saturday’s defeat to Barnet was the first time since early January they conceded more than once but Evatt was quick not to be too harsh o his side. Speaking to barrowafc.co.uk “we didn’t defend well enough today, the three goals were sloppy and were poor goals to concede. It’s hard for me to have a go at them when they’ve kept 11 clean sheets in 14 games so today is so unlike us” He added “sometimes when the defenders are having a bad time the strikers need to step up to the plate and bail them out”. 

• Kept 15 league clean sheets (seven at home)
• Only Solihull (16) and Wrexham (19) have kept more
• Kept two in last three games
• Kept five in their last eight games

Barrow’s major problem has been the lack of goals by the side with only five teams scoring few than them in the league. Evatt feels his side should be higher than their position suggests but understands that will start to come when his side starts to find the back of the net. Speaking to nwemail.co.uk “I see the other teams in the league and we’ve beaten most of the teams in the top six. We have to be more ruthless in both boxes. We have to start putting teams to the sword, it’s not through the lack of creating chances or opportunities. It’s just our final decision isn’t good enough at the moment”.

• Failed to score in 13 league games (six at home)
• Scored in three of their last four games
• Had three 0-0 draws in their last six games

Despite only their second defeat in the their last 11 games on Saturday, Evatt knows his side have the perfect opportunity to respond tonight against the O’s. The 37 year old has only lost one of his five meetings against Orient stated to nwemail.co.uk “The best part about it is that we’ve got another game, a difficult game against Leyton Orient, a game to get the firing again. Hopefully we can take our chances”.

• Home League Record – P17  W7  D5  L5  F19  A17
• Unbeaten in last five games – W1  D4
• Only lost one of their last eight – W2  D5  L1 
• Unbeaten in last seven league games – W2  D5
• Five of their seven home wins have been by one goal

Team News

Defender Jack Barthram is a doubt with concussion while Jason Taylor and Sam Hird remain suspended. Brian Wilson, Josh Granite and Rhys Norrington-Davies are out injured. On loan midfielder Lewis Hardcastle should continue in the starting 11.

Head to Head – Barrow 3, Draw 3, Leyton Orient 4

• Both sides have scored in all three National League games
• Barrow are winless in the last seven meetings between sides – D3  L4
• Barrow are winless in the last three home games -D2  L1
• Barrow have conceded at least twice in the past five meetings

The Last Eight Meetings

Last Time Out – 02/03/2019 – Barnet 3-1 Barrow

Starting 11 vs Barrow

Prediction – Barrow 1-2 Leyton Orient