Two teams sitting towards the top of the League Two table will lock horns for a huge match on Friday evening, with fifth-placed Crewe Alexandra welcoming second-placed Barrow.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 3-3 draw with Accrington Stanley, while the visitors were 3-0 winners over Swindon Town in their last match at this level.

Match preview

Crewe were relegated from League One at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, finishing 13th in League Two last term, but a successful season to date has left them up in fifth position.

The Alex have won 10, drawn seven and lost four of their 21 league games this season to collect 37 points, and they are only three points behind third-placed Wrexham in the race for automatic promotion.

Lee Bell's side will bring a four-game winless run into this match, though, including a 4-2 home loss to Bristol Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup, while they were beaten 2-1 at Grimsby Town in the league on December 9.

Crewe will enter this game off the back of a 3-3 draw with Accrington, and they actually needed a 98th-minute goal from Elliott Nevitt to secure a point in what was a pulsating game of football.

The Railwaymen have been impressive at home this season, though, picking up 24 points from their 11 fixtures in front of their own fans, which is the third-strongest record in the division.

Barrow, meanwhile, have the best away record in League Two this season, picking up 21 points from their 12 games on their travels.

The Bluebirds earned promotion to League Two at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, finishing 21st, 22nd and ninth in their three seasons at this level, and the team are bidding to earn promotion to League One for the first time in their history.

Pete Wild's side are enjoying a strong campaign, boasting a record of 11 wins, seven draws and three defeats from their 21 matches, which has left them in second position in the table on 40 points.

Barrow are six points off leaders Stockport County but level with third-placed Wrexham, while Mansfield Town in fourth are just a point behind, so it is a fascinating battle towards the top.

The visitors are on a six-game winning run in League Two, including a 3-0 success over Swindon Town last weekend, while they are unbeaten at this level of football since the start of October.

Team News

Crewe will be without the services of central defender Luke Offord on Friday following his red card in the latter stages of the contest with Accrington last time out.

Ryan Cooney could therefore come into the starting side, but the hosts have not reported any injury problems following their pulsating draw.

Courtney Baker-Richardson, who has scored eight league goals this season, started on the bench against Accrington, but he is set to be back in the starting side for this match.

As for Barrow, head coach Wild is expected to name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Swindon in the league last time out.

The goals have been shared around for Barrow this season, which has been a huge part of their success, but Emile Acquah has five goals in the league this term, and he will feature in the final third of the field.

There should also be another start for Dominic Telford, with Gerard Garner expected to be among the substitutes for the first whistle on Friday night.

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Davies; O'Riordan, Cooney, Demetriou; Billington, Thomas, White, Rowe, Adebisi; Nevitt, Baker-Richardson

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Chester, Ray, Canavan; Worrall, Spence, White, Foley, Newby; Telford, Acquah

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Barrow

It is the third-best home record in the division this season meeting the strongest away from home, so it is shaping up to be a fascinating affair. Both managers will be wary of losing, which could create a cagey match, and we are expecting the points to be shared on Friday night.

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