Barrow are set to take on Derby County at The Dunes Hotel Stadium on Tuesday evening in the second round of the 2024-25 EFL Cup.
The hosts narrowly defeated Port Vale in the first round of the competition, while the visitors had to come from behind to beat Chesterfield in their first-round tie.
Match preview
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After winning the National League in 2019-20, Barrow found themselves battling against relegation from League Two in each of the following two seasons, managing to narrowly secure their survival with 21st and 22nd-place finishes.
They were vastly improved in the 2022-23 campaign, gaining 18 points more than the prior season to place ninth in the league with 62 points, 13 away from the playoff places.
Barrow had ambitions of qualifying for the playoff places at the end of 2023-24 and they looked destined to do so as they sat sixth in the table with two games remaining.
However, a poor run of form at the end of the term saw Barrow fail to win any of their final seven league games, losing five and drawing two, which allowed teams behind them to catch up and ultimately led to them dropping out of the playoff places on the final day, finishing just one point behind Crawley Town.
Former manager Pete Wild surprisingly left the club at the end of the season due to a disagreement with the board about the future of the club, with Stephen Clemence being appointed ahead of the new campaign.
Clemence will be aiming to guide Barrow into League One this year, and they have started in promising fashion, securing three wins and a loss under the new boss, including a 3-2 win against Port Vale in the EFL Cup first round.
Barrow suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Carlisle United earlier this month but bounced back superbly with a 4-0 victory over Port Vale in their most recent outing, leaving them full of confidence heading into this one.
Derby County are likely to be Clemence's toughest challenge yet, though the Rams have had a mixed start in their first Championship season since being relegated in 2021-22.
Derby had narrowly survived relegation from the second tier in 2020-21, finishing a point above the drop zone, but they succumbed to the drop the following campaign, ending in 23rd place with 34 points after being deducted 21 points due to financial irregularities.
They devastatingly missed out on a chance at promotion through the playoffs in their first League One season, after a defeat on the final day allowed Peterborough United to leapfrog them into sixth place.
However, a phenomenal 2023-24 saw Derby finish in second place with an outstanding 92 points, five points above third-placed Bolton Wanderers, securing automatic promotion.
Paul Warne, who has been in charge since September 2022, has led his team to one victory from their three Championship fixtures so far, while they were also victorious against Chesterfield in the EFL Cup first round.
Warne will be hopeful that his side can secure a win against lower-league opposition on Tuesday, using that momentum to build on in their upcoming games.
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Team News
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Barrow were forced into two changes in their 4-0 victory over Port Vale last weekend, as Connor Mahoney and Rory Feely were taken off due to injuries, leaving both as doubts for this one.
Gerard Garner has netted twice this campaign, including one in the first round of this competition, and is likely to lead the line on Tuesday with Kian Spence playing just behind the striker.
Emile Acquah has also scored twice this season, replacing Garner from the bench in both matches, and the striker will be eager to make a difference from the bench once again here.
The visitors could be without Corey Blackett-Taylor and Eiran Cashin for this game as both are doubts due to recent injury issues, while Jake Rooney and Kane Wilson will be unavailable.
Kayden Jackson is Derby's top scorer with two goals across all competitions this year, and the forward is likely to start alongside Jerry Yates and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing here.
Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Eccleston, Vassell, Canavan, Jackson; Campbell, Gotts; Newby, Spence, Kouyate; Garner
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Vickers; Nyambe, Nelson, Bradley, Elder; Ozoh, Adams; Jackson, Goudmijn, Mendez-Laing; Yates
We say: Barrow 1-2 Derby County
While the hosts will be full of confidence after a 4-0 win in their last game, but the visitors boast more quality throughout their squad and should secure a victory in this one.
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