Barrow have a great opportunity to get back to winning ways as they lock horns with struggling Rochdale.

The Bluebirds have seen their results slump slightly over recent times but they are sat in 9th place for a reason and can rise back into the play-offs if they win on Monday afternoon. They lost 2-1 at home to Tranmere Rovers last time out with attacker Jordan Stevens scoring their goal and they were unfortunate not to pick up a result. The Cumbrian outfit had 55% possession and 17 shots in the game and their boss Pete Wild said afterwards that they ‘dominated’ so if they can do that against Rochdale they will win. On the selection front, winger Josh Kay is still suspended but the team has useful options in his position such as Stevens, Ben Whitfield and Billy Waters, with the latter having bagged seven times so far this season after his summer move from FC Halifax Town. Eight of Barrow’s 11 wins this term have come on home soil which proves that they are a tough team to play on their own patch. They will be desperate to start picking up wins again and there is no better time to do that then in their first game of 2023 against lowly opponents.

Rochdale have been woeful in this campaign and are in a relegation battle. The North West club are 23rd in the table with only Gillingham separating them from the foot of the Football League. They lost 4-3 to Doncaster Rovers in their last game and manager Jim Bentley has admitted that there was a few ‘harsh words’ said in the dressing room afterwards as they leaked another four goals. Rochdale don’t have any fresh injury concerns ahead of their next clash but it is worth noting that right wing-back Femi Seriki, who is on loan from Sheffield United, is only one yellow card away from a one match suspension. The form guide isn’t kind to the Dale and they have lost their last five games on the spin and have only won once in their last nine league outings. They have let in 35 goals so far this season with only Crawley Town and Hartlepool United managing to concede more and at the other end of the pitch, only Gillingham have managed to score less which highlights how much trouble they are in.

Stevenage should have no problems at all getting past struggling Gillingham on Monday.

Boro are going well under Steve Evans at the moment and picked up a 3-1 win over Crawley Town at home last time out, with defender Carl Piergianni scoring twice and striker Jordan Roberts getting the other one. Evans said afterwards that his side were ‘professional’ and did their job so will be hoping for more of the same against his former club Gillingham next up. On the injury front, attacker Elliott List remains out of action but he isn’t missed at all at the moment with players such as Roberts, Danny Rose, Luke Norris, Jamie Reid and David Amoo all proving to be great options at the top end of the pitch. Stevenage are eyeing promotion to League One and have a knack for winning matches this term, especially on home soil. They are currently 2nd in the table behind Leyton Orient and have won 14 of their opening 23, losing only three times which shows what a tough side they are to play against. They are unbeaten in their last eight league outings in a run of fixtures spanning back to 22nd October and they will be in extremely good spirits ahead of their upcoming game.

Gillingham are bottom of the League Two table and are at serious risk of dropping into the National League unless they can turn their fortunes around. They were beaten 2-1 away at Sutton United on 29th December with defender Rob McKenzie scoring their goal in that one and boss Neil Harris said he was ‘disappointed’ with his defence in that game and he will be under no illusion how tough their trip to high-flying Stevenage will be. The Kent club are expected to be without midfielder Ben Reeves and attacker Lewis Walker again, but winger Jordan Green returned to the bench last time out. Gillingham’s main problem this season has been their lack of cutting edge and they have scored just seven goals in their first 22 matches which is the worst return in the whole of the Football League by a mile. They have brought in striker Tom Nichols from Crawley Town to try and sharpen their frontline but he has only scored twice in the league in this campaign. Gillingham are lacking confidence right now and most signs point towards another loss at Broadhall Way.