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Crewe Alexandra
League Two | Gameweek 23
Dec 22, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Alexandra Stadium
Barrow

Crewe
1 - 3
Barrow

Nevitt (58')
Nevitt (40'), Baker-Richardson (64'), Demetriou (66'), Thomas (68')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Whitfield (27', 76'), Garner (50' pen.)
Spence (34'), White (61'), Farman (84'), Gotts (90')

Preview: Crewe Alexandra vs. Barrow - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's League Two clash between Crewe Alexandra and Barrow, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two teams sitting towards the top of the League Two table will lock horns for a huge match on Friday evening, with fifth-placed Crewe Alexandra welcoming second-placed Barrow.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 3-3 draw with Accrington Stanley, while the visitors were 3-0 winners over Swindon Town in their last match at this level.


Match preview

General view of Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road from 2014© Reuters

Crewe were relegated from League One at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, finishing 13th in League Two last term, but a successful season to date has left them up in fifth position.

The Alex have won 10, drawn seven and lost four of their 21 league games this season to collect 37 points, and they are only three points behind third-placed Wrexham in the race for automatic promotion.

Lee Bell's side will bring a four-game winless run into this match, though, including a 4-2 home loss to Bristol Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup, while they were beaten 2-1 at Grimsby Town in the league on December 9.

Crewe will enter this game off the back of a 3-3 draw with Accrington, and they actually needed a 98th-minute goal from Elliott Nevitt to secure a point in what was a pulsating game of football.

The Railwaymen have been impressive at home this season, though, picking up 24 points from their 11 fixtures in front of their own fans, which is the third-strongest record in the division.

Barrow manager Pete Wild celebrates after winning the penalty shoot out on August 9, 2022© Reuters

Barrow, meanwhile, have the best away record in League Two this season, picking up 21 points from their 12 games on their travels.

The Bluebirds earned promotion to League Two at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, finishing 21st, 22nd and ninth in their three seasons at this level, and the team are bidding to earn promotion to League One for the first time in their history.

Pete Wild's side are enjoying a strong campaign, boasting a record of 11 wins, seven draws and three defeats from their 21 matches, which has left them in second position in the table on 40 points.

Barrow are six points off leaders Stockport County but level with third-placed Wrexham, while Mansfield Town in fourth are just a point behind, so it is a fascinating battle towards the top.

The visitors are on a six-game winning run in League Two, including a 3-0 success over Swindon Town last weekend, while they are unbeaten at this level of football since the start of October.

Crewe Alexandra League Two form:


Crewe Alexandra form (all competitions):


Barrow League Two form:


Barrow form (all competitions):



Team News

Crewe will be without the services of central defender Luke Offord on Friday following his red card in the latter stages of the contest with Accrington last time out.

Ryan Cooney could therefore come into the starting side, but the hosts have not reported any injury problems following their pulsating draw.

Courtney Baker-Richardson, who has scored eight league goals this season, started on the bench against Accrington, but he is set to be back in the starting side for this match.

As for Barrow, head coach Wild is expected to name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Swindon in the league last time out.

The goals have been shared around for Barrow this season, which has been a huge part of their success, but Emile Acquah has five goals in the league this term, and he will feature in the final third of the field.

There should also be another start for Dominic Telford, with Gerard Garner expected to be among the substitutes for the first whistle on Friday night.


Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Davies; O'Riordan, Cooney, Demetriou; Billington, Thomas, White, Rowe, Adebisi; Nevitt, Baker-Richardson

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Chester, Ray, Canavan; Worrall, Spence, White, Foley, Newby; Telford, Acquah


SM words green background

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Barrow

It is the third-best home record in the division this season meeting the strongest away from home, so it is shaping up to be a fascinating affair. Both managers will be wary of losing, which could create a cagey match, and we are expecting the points to be shared on Friday night.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Crewe vs Barrow

Crewe Alexandra
28.6%
Draw
14.3%
Barrow
57.1%
14
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Tables header RHS
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3Doncaster RoversDoncaster168442218428
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5MK Dons168352719827
6Notts County167632315827
7Grimsby Town168171925-625
8AFC Wimbledon1472523131023
9Bradford CityBradford166552117423
10Gillingham157261612423
11Chesterfield165742920922
12BarrowBarrow166461715222
13Fleetwood TownFleetwood145632015521
14Salford City165651518-321
15Newport CountyNewport166281926-720
16Accrington StanleyAccrington164662226-418
17Cheltenham TownCheltenham165382125-418
18Harrogate TownHarrogate165381422-818
19Tranmere RoversTranmere144551017-717
20Bromley153751719-216
21Colchester UnitedColchester152851822-414
22Swindon TownSwindon162771825-713
23Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1633101429-1512
24Morecambe1624101427-1310


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