WE ARE THERE TO BE SHOT AT

Bluebirds chief warns of Ducks threat

MICKY MOORE will kit out his Barrow side with bullet-proof vests as they aim to avoid being shot down in a huge FA Cup shock at high-flying Shaw Lane this afternoon.

Without a win in five matches, Moore’s Bluebirds are currently languishing fifth from bottom in the National League table with no fewer than EIGHT key first-teamers out through injury.

In stark contrast, the Ducks are in superb form with six wins from their last seven matches taking them three points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier table in their first ever season at Step 3.

Naturally, the Cup purists are rubbing their hands in anticipation of another shock, but although mindful of the ‘no-win’ situation that faces his side, Moore insists the Bluebirds are ready to put

“There will be some shocks in the FA Cup this weekend. We just need to make sure that we are not one of them”

Micky Moore Barrow manager

their reputations on the line. “It’s a potential banana skin, that’s for sure,” admitted Moore, who took over as manager from Paul Cox last month. “I went to watch Shaw Lane play Buxton on Monday night and they are a good side with good National League players. “Craig Elliott has done a fantastic job taking them to the top of the table in their first season at that level, and it’s going to be a tough game. “There will be some shocks in the FA Cup this weekend; we just have to make sure that we are not one of them. On paper, an in-form lower-ranked team against a strug- gling National League side...we are there to be shot at, but I believe we are professional enough to rise to the challenge.

Challenge

“We have experienced players in the side, players like Bedsente Gomis, who played in the fifth round for Sutton against Arsenal last season and Chris Clements, who has played at Anfield for Mansfield Town, so we have big-game players for the big occasion like this.

“If we weren’t playing well then I’d be worried, but we are. In the ten games I’ve been in charge, we’ve lost 1-0 four times. I believe in the process; I believe in what we are doing. We just have to believe now that luck will turn for us too.”

Moore has been boosted by the news that key defender Dave Nieskens’ knee injury is not as bad as first feared and could be back in action by Christmas.

The Dutch centre-half underwent tests for a season-ending ACL injury this week after being carried off in the game against Tranmere Rovers last month.

But Moore has revealed that Nieskens has only suffered a meniscus cartilage problem and is looking to return by the end of the year.