After picking up another point in midweek, Barrow continue their battle to avoid the drop when they welcome Bradford City to Holker Street on New Year's Day.

While the hosts sit 19th having accrued four points from their last three league games and also progressed in the FA Cup, their West Yorkshire counterparts have been sidelined by cancellations since December 11.

Match preview

In their final outing of 2021, Barrow were held to a goalless draw against the Football League's bottom club Oldham - representing their second successive failure to score.

Mark Cooper's men do retain a six-point cushion over their relegation rivals though, and have played one game fewer, as they now prepare for Bradford's visit to kick off 2022.

While they are still expected to battle for survival until the season's final throes, a 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Tranmere ended a three-game unbeaten run in which the Bluebirds enjoyed rare back-to-back wins - over Swindon in League Two and Ipswich in the second round of the FA Cup.

As Cooper has admitted, though, the constant theme of Barrow's campaign has been a lack of goals, and they have registered an average of just one goal per game so far - five fewer than fellow strugglers Bradford, having played one match more.

The last time the teams met in the league back in September, despite facing 26 shots at their goal, Barrow were able to draw 1-1 at Valley Parade. Even a repeat scoreline would be welcome on Saturday, as their goal drought would at least be ended, but the Bluebirds would dearly love to post just their fourth league win on home soil.

Bradford's need is almost equal, however, as they sit just three points above their hosts in the table following a prolonged period out of League Two action.

Their unscheduled mid-season break came as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak which saw festive fixtures versus Carlisle, Harrogate and Walsall postponed until later this term, but having missed out on completing the 2021 calendar, the Bantams will be keen to start the new year in better form.

Either side of crashing out of the FA Cup to Exeter at the end of November, manager Derek Adams saw his side draw three times in a row before the club's operations were effectively shut down - taking their tally of ties to 11 from 21 league games.

Lee Angol scored late on to salvage a 2-2 draw with Sutton United last time out at Valley Parade, where Bradford have won only three times this season, and they have fared even worse away from home ahead of their latest trip, to Cumbria.

Indeed, City last emerged victorious on the road back in October, when they got the better of Swindon, so they will hope to avoid rustiness and kickstart their campaign with a New Year's Day win.

Team News

Ahead of his first selection of 2022, Bradford boss Derek Adams will have to reintegrate several players who have been struck down by COVID-19 in the past fortnight, having only had six players available for their cancelled festive fixtures.

Centre-back Niall Canavan will be unavailable on Saturday, as he serves a suspension for seeing red last time out, while striker Andy Cook is still missing following a hernia operation. In his absence, Lee Angol has started the visitors' last five matches and scored the second equaliser in the comeback draw against Sutton.

Joining the former Peterborough forward in a front two should be veteran Theo Robinson, who also found the net at Valley Parade when the Bantams last kicked a ball in competitive action.

Meanwhile, Barrow's Mark Cooper has not been immune to the effects of the pandemic on his squad, but was able to bring back both Patrick Brough and Matty Platt into his defence in midweek, following spells in self-isolation.

If fully fit, the home side can revert to a settled defensive unit with James Jones joining Brough and Platt in Cooper's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.

Should Mark Ellis remain on the bench, Connor Brown will continue as captain, featuring in a wing-back role on the right flank.

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Platt, Jones, Grayson; Brown, White, Jones, Brough; Stevens, Kay; Zanzala

Bradford City possible starting lineup:
Hornby; Songo'o, Kelleher, O'Connor; Threlkeld, Sutton, Watt, Ridehalgh; Gilliead; Robinson, Angol

We say: Barrow 1-1 Bradford City

Barrow may not score by the bucket load, but have the combination of home advantage and Bradford's extended layoff in their favour on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors may eventually benefit from a period of recuperation at this stage of the season, but having so much time away from the pitch and with several men still affected by illness, they will draw once again and take home just a point.

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