Stevenage have an ability to grind out results and will be looking to do the same again against Barrow.

Steve Evans’ side have been one of the surprise packages in League Two so far this season and are 2nd in the league. They have won 12 out of their opening 19 games and have lost only twice which leaves them six points inside the top three. The Hertfordshire outfit beat National League North table toppers King’s Lynn Town 3-0 away in the FA Cup last time out courtesy of goals from strikers Luke Norris (x2) and Jamie Reid and Evans said afterwards that his team were ‘very professional’ with their performance. Boro have no fresh injury concerns but it is worth noting defender Carl Piergianni is only one yellow card away from suspension.

Evans has hinted work on January transfers has started already which suggests he is in the hunt for more additions as he chases down promotion. His players are in confident mood at the moment and have been so strong on home soil in this campaign, losing just once in nine matches there and that was against Northampton Town. In addition, they have the joint second-best defensive record in the league behind Leyton Orient which shows how solid they are.

Barrow are a decent side but struggle away from home so won’t be holding out much hope of getting something at Broadhall Way. They also go into the match on the back of a defeat after losing to Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday night 3-2, with winger Josh Key and defender Niall Canavan getting their goals. Looking ahead to their next game, head coach Pete Wild has said they are in for a ‘tough’ one against Stevenage so he is under no illusion how difficult it will be for his players which doesn’t inspire confidence. On the selection front, defender Sam McClelland, who is on loan from Chelsea, has been diagnosed with a hernia so is out of action until January. This is a blow for the Cumbrian side and leaves them short of options in the heart of the back four, with Canavan and George Ray their current pairing over recent weeks.

The Bluebirds are not having fun on their travels in this campaign despite being strong on their own patch. They are winless in their last four clashes on the road and have lost away at the likes of Sutton United, Northampton Town, Tranmere Rovers, Rochdale and Crawley Town this season which doesn’t bode well. In addition, they were held 1-1 by struggling Gillingham last month so do have issues away from Holker Street.