Preview: Barrow vs. Swindon Town - prediction, team news, lineups

While the fourth-placed hosts saw their previous fixture at Carlisle postponed due to a frozen pitch, Swindon - who sit eighth - ground out a goalless draw last weekend.

Match preview

Though they were thumped 5-0 in their most recent league outing, Barrow are among several teams in contention for a place in the League Two playoffs, having won three of their last five matches.

Indeed, automatic promotion is not out of reach for the Bluebirds, who remain within striking distance of the division's top three approaching the halfway stage of the season - defying all pre-season expectations.

Pete Wild's side were aiming to bounce back from a crushing defeat to Stevenage a fortnight ago, but their all-Cumbrian clash with Carlisle United failed to go ahead last Saturday because of freezing conditions at Brunton Park.

The clubs and the EFL have since confirmed a new date for the fixture, and Barrow will now tackle their regional rivals on January 31 - potentially an important encounter in the playoff race, with both clubs flying high in the standings.

First, though, former Halifax boss Wild will attempt to negotiate a busy festive period, and his team's final pre-Christmas engagement sees them welcome Swindon to the Furness peninsula this weekend.

Having been knocked out of both the EFL Trophy and FA Cup since the start of November, Barrow will be keen to continue a generally positive home record, which stands in stark contrast to their woes on the road.

While Saturday's hosts are a more brittle prospect away from home, Swindon have accrued a healthy total of 10 points from their last six road trips, so head to Lancashire with hopes high of a return to winning ways.

The Robins' slump in form continued at the start of the month, as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Crawley Town, and they have now failed to win any of their last five matches following a stalemate with Wimbledon last time out.

Jonny Williams went closest for Swindon in the first-half, when the Welshman fired an attempt just wide of the top corner, but a game of few chances ultimately ended with the spoils shared.

Also featuring a 4-0 first-round FA Cup exit at the hands of Stockport County, their winless run stretches back to October, and a distinct lack of sharpness in the final third lies at the root of their ills.

Scott Lindsey's side have scored just once in their last five games - though with 32 points from 21 matches, remain very much in the mix for the playoffs.

Barrow League Two form:

W

W

W

L

W

L

Barrow form (all competitions):

W

L

L

W

L

L

Swindon Town League Two form:

D

W

D

L

L

D

Swindon Town form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

L

D

Team News

Having recently returned from the World Cup in Qatar, Swindon midfielder Jonny Williams should start once again on Saturday, but several of his teammates are still struggling with injury.

Scott Lindsey's woes in that regard grew even longer this week, as it was confirmed that veteran centre-back Mathieu Baudry will be sidelined for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a development team friendly against Newport County.

Tom Clayton is also out for several weeks with a quad problem, but Saidou Khan should return from concussion and both Angus MacDonald and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy are back in contention too. The latter may even start, as Town seek an end to their goalscoring difficulties.

Meanwhile, 10-goal striker Josh Gordon is set to lead the visitors' line up front, while Ben Whitfield is Barrow's chief creator with a total of nine assists and four goals to his name so far this season.

Billy Waters has six strikes in his last seven league matches - which earned him the accolade of League Two's 'Player of the Month' for November - and starts in a role just behind lone frontman Gordon.

Barrow possible starting lineup:

Farman; Warren, Ray, Canavan, Brough; White, Neal; Whitfield, Waters, Kay; Gordon

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Hutton, Brennan, Blake-Tracy, Lavinier; Reed, Khan, Williams; Wakeling, Jephcott, Iandolo

We say: Barrow 2-1 Swindon Town

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