[ 28 Feb 26 ] Barrow v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills have won 12 of the meetings with Barrow and have lost 8 of them with a further 7 ending in draws. After last season and the one before when the home sides won their games 3-0 and 2-0, the reverse fixture back in December at Priestfield ended 2-2.
- The Gills record away at Barrow stands at 4 wins and 6 defeats in 13 visits. Between 1951 and 1967, the Gills won 4 of their 6 games at Barrow and losing one. The Gills are winless in 6 visits since, losing 5 including their last 4 scoring 1 goal and conceding 8 in those 4.
- Barrow have lost their last 5 away games, conceding 13 goals in the process. At home, they have lost 6 of their last 7 games and conceded 11 goals in the process. Home and away, they have lost 8 of their last 9 league games and have won 2 of the previous 19 (13 defeats).
- At 8.9 fouls per game, Barrow's opponents' 286 fouls is the fewest total won in League 2. The Gills' 13.5 fouls conceded is the most in the division and so is their difference (-96) between fouls conceded and fouls won.
- Barrow's 5 clean sheets is the joint fewest in League 2, contributing them to conceding 50 goals in the division. Despite this, only 33 goals (for and against) have been scored at Holker Street, the joint fewest in the division thanks partly to a joint league-low of 11 home goals scored.
- The Gills have kept 1 clean sheet in 13 league games and conceded 21 goals during that period. Barrow managed 4 clean sheets in their first 12 league games (1 more than the Gills) but have enjoyed only 1 in the 20 league games since, conceding 38 goals in them.
- Barrow have taken just 1 lead in their last 8 home league games and their 136 minutes ahead at home is the shortest duration in League 2. They have managed just 5 at home and 11 in their total of 32 games home and away, both the fewest totals in the division. They have conceded 6 home deficits in 5 games and a league-high of 29 in all games (including 21 in their last 17 games).

[Sat 28th February 2026] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Barrow AFC v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Dino Maamria Matchday Team: Wyll Stanway, Joe Anderson, [c[ Niall Canavan, Jack Thompson, Tom Barkhuizen, Ben Jackson, Charlie McCann, Rekeem Harper, Jovan Malcolm (Connor Mahoney), Josh Gordon (Isaac Fletcher), Danny Rose (Tyler Walker)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (22nd)
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 2,331 (237)

(15:01) Kick Off [ 5 - 3 - 2 ]
(15.03) Little forces a good early save. From the resulting corner, Clark slams a shot narrowly wide.
(15.36) The Gills break quickly. Hale gets taken out but advantage given and McKenzie drives a shot narrowly wide.
(15.46) Four minutes will be added.
(15.50) Half time 0-0

(16.06) The second half kicks off.
(16.09) Ronan Hale hits the post.
(16.22) A good strike for the hosts but their best effort so far as both high and wide.
(16.31) Connor Mahoney comes on for the hosts after a lengthy stoppage (around 6 minutes) for Malcolm after a challenge by Coleman saw the Barrow man stretchered off.
(16.49) Andy Smith denies Canavan a likely goal with a crucial block and concedes a corner.
(16.50) McCann clips the top of the bar directly from a corner and the ball bounces out for a Gills goal kick.
(16.51) Gale, under pressure from Walker, clears a dangerous bit of play from the hosts for a corner.
(16.52) The fourth official indicates a minimum of 12 additional minutes.
(17.03) Vokes forces Stanway into a brilliant save and the Gills have a corner.
(17.03) GOAL! Barrow AFC 0-1 Gillingham: McKenzie
(17.05) FULL TIME 0-1

Gills' League Position After Game: 16th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ceqvy7rgdxwt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz61bSRX9qs