The hero as Bluebirds make point

MARK Cooper hailed Barrow’s battling spirit as they held on for a goalless draw at Rochdale.

The Bluebirds boss watched the game from the stands as he serves out an eight-game ban for reference to gender during an exchange with an assistant referee earlier in the season.

And while his side came under the cosh for long periods, he was delighted with their willingness to dig in.

“Rochdale are a really good football team, very expansive, so I’m pleased with the result and it takes us another point further away from the bottom,” said Cooper.

“We had a couple of great chances and didn’t quite convert them but we dug in really well.

“We lost our way a little bit in the second half and changed it, tried to get a bit more control. But I can never question the attitude or commitment of the boys.”

Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman produced a fine display between the posts to frustrate Rochdale.

The home side started well and had a golden opportunity two minutes in when Matt Done played Tahvon Campbell in on goal, the striker frustrated by Farman,

who also kept out first-half efforts from Jimmy Keohane and James Ball.

Barrow settled and finished the opening period in the ascendancy, Robbie Gotts sending a shot over the crossbar and Ollie Banks heading John Rooney’s corner kick against the woodwork.

The home side started the second half brightly and created a number of openings but were frustrated time and time again by Farman, who kept out efforts from Campbell, Eoghan O’Connell and Max Clark.

Barrow had offered nothing in the second half until the 71st minute when Patrick Brough’s cross from the left was met by Aaron Amadi-Holloway and his header flew inches wide.

The visitors could have won it late on, Matt Platt wasting a good opportunity when he headed tamely at Jay Lynch.

Rochdale boss Robbie Stockdale said: “We had the major chance early on when Tahvon Campbell goes through and the goalkeeper makes a good save. Their goalkeeper made two very good saves, so we are creating and on another day we might score one or two of them.”