Mark Cooper goes back to Forest Green tonight insisting his Barrow side can turn the form-book upside down.
Cooper’s Barrow sit next-to-bottom of the form table and are without a win in seven league games.
Forest Green were managed by Cooper for five years, during which time he oversaw promotion to the Football League – and just over a month after leaving he signed a three-year deal with Barrow.
The Gloucestershire side are now top of League Two, only beaten twice so far, but are sixth on current form.
A defeat has been followed by three wins and two draws but they head the table by two points from Exeter and have a match in hand.
Cooper said Barrow have to travel south believing they can upset the form table. He told the club website: “Sometimes in football, you get strange results and upsets so we’ve just got to go and be really committed, commit to the game and make sure we take our frustrations out on the pitch.”
The Barrow boss had been particularly critical of his side’s performance in a 1-0 home defeat by Crawley on Saturday.
“Our fans will see a much harder-working display against Forest Green because Saturday simply wasn’t good enough.
“We had a disjointed week and there are plenty of excuses I could put out there, but one thing I can’t stop players doing is running about and having a right go – that costs nothing.
“People pulling out of tackles, away from headers, playing at 60 per cent, thinking they might get a move in January… it’s not fair to the public of Barrow, the people that pay their wages.”
Cooper is able to recall striker Josh Gordon after suspension and his work rate is sure to be appreciated by the manager.
But Cooper is having to deal with COVID issues. The club is waiting on a COVID-19 test result to determine whether Jordan Stevens has the virus while Mark Ellis is still out with it.
Cooper’s time at Forest Green was noted by his successor at New Lawn, Rob Edwards who said: “Mark was here for five years and did a really good job. He will know a lot of the players we have here.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and what we do well, and what has got us to the top of the league.
“I have a headache in picking the team because we have everyone fit and they are all in good form, meaning there will be disappointed players after the team is announced.
“But I think it will be a challenge tonight. Barrow don’t look like a side that have gone seven games without a win. They have some good players and can mix it up how they play, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
