Barrow looking for a response against Oldham

ROB Kelly takes caretaker charge of Barrow for the first time tonight following the sacking of Michael Jolley after just seven matches.

His first task is to arrest a run of five defeats in six games, with the Bluebirds facing Oldham.

The club still have several long-term absentees, with midfielder Tom Beadling (groin) and defender Matthew Platt (knee) still some way from fitness. Midfielder Mike Jones is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury.

Oldham defender Sido Jombati misses the visit of Barrow due to suspension.

The centre-back was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in the weekend draw with Tranmere, and serves a one-match ban.

It is likely to mean Kyle Jameson, who came on shortly after Jombati’s sending-off, will make his first start in a month. On-loan Peterborough midfielder Serhat Tasdemir was taken off after 50 minutes of his first start but could get another chance to impress from the off.

■Darrell Clarke will have a handful of absentees as he oversees his first home game in charge of Port Vale when they host Stevenage tonight.

Clarke’s first fixture at the helm of the League Two club ended in a 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient at the weekend.

Both Tom Pope (broken arm) and Dino Visser (hamstring) are sidelined for considerable spells. David Amoo will also be missing.

Stevenage boss Alex Revell has no new injury troubles ahead of the fixture. Stevenage’s 1-1 draw with Walsall left them 21st in the division, 10 points above the bottom two.

■Southend face Forest Green tomorrow.