STALEMATE AIN’T NO DRAB SHOW
Bluebirds battle for the point
FOREST GREEN 0 BARROW 0
In a battle of polar opposites, Forest Green’s tiki-taka style was well-matched by a dogged Barrow in a far from dour match.
Second-placed Rovers have aspirations of the League, but they were well-matched by a resolute Barrow, who also have play-off hopes.
Rovers hit the bar and post twice in the first half through Aarran Racine and Drissa Traore.
Rovers held the territory – former Premier League player Darren Carter played released Ben Jefford, who skied his shot.
Barrow had chances, though – Moussa Diarra saw his bicycle-kick land on the roof of Sam Russell’s net after a period of pin-ball.
But, Barrow boss Paul Cox was happier than Mark Cooper after the Cumbrian outfit settled for a point. He told The NLP: “We saw two good sides today and I thought the game was entertaining.
“As you expect, Forest Green probably had the lion’s share of possession, but I thought we finished the stronger and we were a bit unlucky at the end – the keeper pulled off a very good save and with probably a little bit better decision-making from Jordan [Williams] late on we maybe have a goal, but we have kept the unbeaten run going and we look a solid unit. I’m pleased for the boys and over the moon for the supporters today.”
Cox said his side improved after the break and felt his team edged the second half and could have pinched it at the death, but for a great save from the in-form Sam Russell.
He added: “The first half I questioned our belief in the final third and I wanted to go and score a goal. Moussa [Diarra] has had a free header in the centre of the goal and I expect him to do better than that and apart from that we looked a bit lacklustre in the final third, but the second half we played some good stuff in the final third. This is a good point but were are not blowing raspberries at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Rovers boss Cooper insisted his side need to be more clinical in the box. He said: “We got into some brilliant positions in the final third of the pitch and our final pass, cross or shot wasn’t good enough.
“I said to the players after the game, I can coach them on how to get into the right areas, but once they are there, they have to produce that little extra bit or the final bit that leads to a goal or a clear-cut chance, but we didn’t do that today.”
The former Swindon Town boss felt Rovers should have opened the scoring when Racine planted a header on to Joe Dixon’s post from a Liam Noble free-kick.