Preview: Barrow vs. Colchester United - prediction, team news, lineups

Barrow head into their fixture with Colchester United on Friday evening with the opportunity to progress into third position in the League Two standings.

While the visitors sit all the way down in 18th spot, they could move into a playoff place with victory in the North-West.

Match preview

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After successfully avoiding relegation in their first year as an EFL club, Barrow are looking to finish well clear of the bottom two this time around.

However, manager Mark Cooper may not have envisaged the club sitting in eighth position at this stage, particularly with just two wins to their name.

The Bluebirds even put together a three-match streak without a victory during August, but their dominant 3-0 triumph at Oldham Athletic last week catapulted them up the table.

Although Cooper will refuse to get too carried away at this stage of the campaign, the foundations have seemingly been laid for a playoff challenge.

Offrande Zanzala has hit the ground running since his switch from Carlisle United, scoring three goals in his opening five league starts.

The entire Colchester squad have netted just one strike more than Zanzala, a record which must improve if they are to make quick headway up the standings.

That said, Hayden Mullins will be content with his team's start to the season, with The U's still possessing a game in hand on many of the teams above them.

Since their solitary defeat to fifth-placed Northampton Town, Colchester have remained unbeaten by collecting a win and two draws.

While some of the club's supporters will point to their sole success coming at struggling Oldham, Mullins and his squad will feel that three more points are just around the corner.

Team News

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With almost a week of preparation after the win over Oldham, Cooper will look to select the same Barrow team which started at Boundary Park.

Captain Mark Ellis remains unavailable for the home side as he serves the last of a three-match ban for violent conduct against Bristol Rovers.

Having made widespread changes for the EFL Trophy fixture with Gillingham, Mullins may revert back to the team that started the most recent league game at Rochdale.

However, Frank Nouble's place in the side remains under threat, with the experienced forward still awaiting his first goal of the season.

Alan Judge is pushing for a recall after being given 45 minutes earlier this week.

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Jones, Taylor, Grayson; Hutton, Banks, Gotts, Brough; Stevens; Gordon, Zanzala

Colchester United possible starting lineup:
George; Welch-Hayes, Chambers, Smith, Daniels; Sarpong-Wiredu, Skuse; Sears, Chilvers, Jasper; Nouble

We say: Barrow 1-1 Colchester United

With Colchester having marginally performed better than their higher-placed opponents of late, this fixture is a difficult one to call.

Although the home side will naturally push for all three points, we fancy the visitors to earn a share of the spoils.

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