Barrow boss Phil Brown looking for team’s A-game against Crawley

This is the moment the champagne corks flew as Hull City’s Manager, Phil Brown, shakes and sprays the celebration brew after winning the Championship Playoff match at Wembley in May 2008. Copyright Andy Beecroft

Barrow boss Phil Brown is looking for his team to take their A-game onto the pitch against Crawley tomorrow.

Brown has been impressed with how his side have been working in training but he needs them to replicate that on matchdays.

“It would be criminal if we didn’t do that. The way they have been training has been great but it will only count when they step over that white line on a matchday.

“I’ve seen good spells from the players in both games I’ve been in charge, but we couldn’t fashion a win.

“I thought we did particularly well in the first half against Port Vale on Saturday, and that’s against a team who had only lost once in 17 games. It was a sickener to lose to a late goal,” said Brown.

Crawley are 13^th in League Two some 14 points above Barrow who remain only three points above the drop zone.

Brown said: “Crawley are one of those teams who score plenty of goals but they also concede a good few. I’ve crossed swords with their manager John Yems before and he’s one of those who can change formation three or four times during a game.

“But it’s not about him, or me for that matter, once the game is underway. It’s about the players and how they perform. That’s why if we can take our training form out there onto the pitch we will be fine.

“We have some tough games coming up but in our position, they are all tough and we just have to concentrate on Crawley and bring something back with us.”

Barrow’s rivals in distress, in the battle to avoid the drop, are both away tomorrow – Oldham visit in-form Port Vale while Stevenage are at Colchester.