Barrow v Crewe Alex 25-26 Preview - Under Pressure

I do love the odd statistical quirk. And how's this for one. In 22-23, the Alex lost 3-0 at Barrow, but beat them 3-0 in the reverse fixture. In 23-24, they lost 3-1 at home to them just before Christmas. Then they went north and won 3-1 at Holker Street a month later. Ok, last season broke that opposite streak, but still, the Alex lost 1-0 on the opening day in Cumbria before winning to nil at Gresty Road in March. So, are we saying that whichever team loses this one will win when they meet up again in January? Anyway, here is my preview of the Alex's trip to Barrow:

Under Pressure

Andy Whing is potentially feeling the heat from the Barrow hierarchy after a poor start to the season. They are 20th in the table with 8 losses from their opening 10 games, having scored just 6 goals across those games. They said goodbye to Pete Wild after 2 near misses with the play-offs and sacked Stephen Clemence when it was clear things weren't working out. They are ruthless when they need to be. Will they chop Whing soon if results don't improve? He has to know he's not far away from being sacked.

As for Lee Bell, he should be similarly under pressure. Ok, a 4 game winless run on the surface might not be anything to panic about, when it's combined with their terrible end to last season, it puts him in a tough situation where he needs to find wins and quickly. Perhaps an away game, where he has always seemed more at home, will be just the ticket he needs.

Both managers badly need a win. Will either get it?

Be better

Talking of needing a result, it's not just Bell that needs 3 points this weekend. The players need one after 3 defeats in their last 4. If you are a glass half full person, you can argue they should have won at Gillingham and should have beaten Barnet, which they would have done had they taken their chances in both games. So you can make the case that in 6 of the 8 games, they've been fine or better.

Well, now is their time to go and prove that. Because another shambles like Swindon, Colchester or Barnet last 20 minutes will once again raise question marks against this group of players.

Firepower

Whilst I think there is the core of a decent team at Barrow, I don't get their attacking additions. At all. Their forward line up consists of Tyler Walker(1), Innes Cameron(1), Michael Adu-Poku(1), Kane Hemmings(4), Tom Barkhuizen(0), Rhys Healey(0) and Josh Gordon(1). In brackets are how many goals they scored last season.

Yes, I know most of them have had impressive careers and better seasons for goal returns, but this feels like it would be a great attacking group 5 seasons ago. Not now. I say this knowing that 2-3 of them could click and find the net in this group, but as it is, it doesn't surprise me to see them struggling for goals.

Circled

If you had asked me back in July to predict the Alex's first away win, I wouldn't have said any of the first 4. The Alex had fairly poor records at all 4 grounds and I wouldn't have expected a win from any of them. The fact they've won 2 already puts them in bonus territory.

However, with no disrespect to Barrow, this is a game I think they should be winning. Why? Well, Barrow's form at home, that's why. Since starting 4-1-0 at Holker Street last season, they went 6-6-6 through their final 18. And this season, they have been poor on home soil, with 3 defeats and only a solitary last minute win against Notts County from their first 4 games.

Holker Street is an awkward and strange ground to visit, but it's one of the fixtures I think you look back on in May and rue the failure to win should that materialise. And that's regardless of whether you are looking to avoid relegation, finish mid-table or push for promotion.

Conditions

I post this preview 2 days ahead of schedule asking if it will even go ahead. Persistent heavy rain is expected in the next 48 hours in the Barrow area, with not much let up. Will the pitch have enough time and capability to cope with the deluge and still be in a playable condition come 3pm on Saturday?

And even if it does, I doubt the conditions will enable a good contest. Wet pitches are notoriously tricky to play on. I think this could be a very tough game to both play in and watch. If it goes ahead in the first place.

Ref Watch

Scott Oldham

Oh lovely, our first well known bad ref of the season. Mr Oldham rose to my prominence for sending off Owen Lunt in last season's game at Colchester. But as we know, refs who make mistakes keep coming back for more without incident. So he's back and hopefully he feels like evening up the red card in this one.

2025-26 Record: 7 games(5 League One, 2 League Cup), 30 yellows, 1 red

Last Game: Bradford City 3-1 Huddersfield Town, EFL League One, 13th September 2025, 6 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: 6-2-5, 17 yellows, 2 red(1 rescinded)

Injuries/Absences

Barrow

Barrow are likely to be without several players, including several in attacking areas. Captain Niall Canavan was forced off last week and Ben Whitfield serves the final game of a 3 match suspension. Kane Hemmings(lol), Sam Foley, Michael Adu-Poku, Rekeem Harper and Rhys Healey were also absent from both their league trip to Bristol Rovers and their Vertu Trophy game with Blackpool on Tuesday. So they are far from full strength.

Crewe Alex

The Alex's treatment room should be the emptiest it's been in months. Fingers crossed only Tracey and Tabiner occupy it, with all the rest being at the very least back in training. Jack Lankester is back in contention and if Conor Thomas is genuinely back as well, then they will have 2-3 quite prominent names absent from the team sheet.

Team

We do need to see some changes. Connolly needs dropping for sure, so Golding comes into the XI in his place at RCB. Billington is also in need of rotation, so Jay Mingi gets his first start at RB. If you want to convince me to drop Agius, move Holicek out wide and bring in Tezgel, I'm ok with that also. Or if you want to move Lunt further forward and bring in Thomas alongside Sanders, I'm fine with this too. For now, I'm sticking with the same front 4 and midfield 2 as last week.

On the bench Bell would have 6 to select from a pool of: Billington, Finney, Connolly, Thomas, Powell, Lankester, Rankine, Tezgel and Moult. Who makes the cut and who doesn't will be fascinating. My choice would be Billington, Thomas, Lankester, Rankine, Tezgel and Moult.

Score Prediction

We are approaching must win territory for Bell. This is such a winnable game, his lives will be running out if they don't pick up 3 points. Being away from home where performances largely don't matter should suit him, but if they aren't winning here, it's fair to ask where they will win again. I'm going to keep the faith and say they snatch a win. It won't be pretty, but they will get the full haul.

Barrow 0-1 Crewe Alexandra