Dean Campbell fires Barrow to victory against in-form Tranmere

By Sports Desk January 06, 2024

Dean Campbell restored promotion-chasing Barrow to winning ways with the only goal in the Cumbrians’ 1-0 Sky Bet League Two victory over in-form Tranmere.

Campbell’s third goal of the campaign came 10 minutes from time as Barrow bounced back from their 4-1 defeat at Wrexham on New Year’s Day.

Elliot Newby laid off the ball for the midfielder to curl the ball left-footed into the top corner from 18 yards out.

His stunning strike enabled Pete Wild’s side to record a league double over a Prenton Park outfit who arrived on a four-game winning streak.

It also provided the Cumbrians with a first home win over Tranmere since August 1969.

Barrow, however, suffered an even later scare before the three points were confirmed.

The Bluebirds had thrown away leads in their last three games and it was almost four when Josh Hawkes struck an upright with a stoppage-time effort.

However, Barrow survived and had a last-minute Kian Spence effort disallowed for offside.

Related items

  • Southgate: Man United speculation 'a complete irrelevance' Southgate: Man United speculation 'a complete irrelevance'

    Gareth Southgate says speculation linking him with the Manchester United job is "a complete irrelevance" as his entire focus is on England's Euro 2024 campaign.

    The England manager has been tipped as a contender to succeed Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford should United part ways with the Dutchman at the end of the season.

    Southgate is due to be out of contract later this year, with suggestions that the upcoming European Championship finals will be his last tournament as Three Lions chief.

    However, amid the talk over where he could end up later this year, the 53-year-old is not looking beyond the Euros.

    "I've got one thing to focus on, and that's having as successful a tournament with England as possible," he told ITV News.

    "Everything else outside of that is a complete irrelevance to me."

    Asked specifically about the United links in a separate interview with BBC Sport, Southgate said: "There will always be speculation about managers.

    "If you lose a couple of games, you're in trouble - you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda.

    "But for me, [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We're looking forward to the tournament. My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros."

    Southgate has been England boss since 2016 and previously hinted he contemplated stepping down after the World Cup quarter-final loss to France in December 2022.

    Despite the fact his deal expires in the next six months, Southgate insists that is not a concern ahead of the Euros in Germany.

    "It's not an issue and never has been," Southgate said. "I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there's enough work involved in that.

    "I think everybody would expect that's where my focus should be."

  • Iraola signs 12-month contract extension with Bournemouth Iraola signs 12-month contract extension with Bournemouth

    Andoni Iraola has committed his future to Bournemouth until 2026 by penning a one-year contract extension with the club, having enjoyed an excellent first season on the south coast.

    Iraola left Rayo Vallecano to join Bournemouth after they parted company with Gary O'Neil last year, and after a difficult start to his tenure, he has overseen a tremendous campaign. 

    Bournemouth failed to win any of their first nine league games under Iraola before beating Burnley in late October. 

    Since that victory, only the current top four of Arsenal (65), Manchester City (64), Liverpool (58) and Aston Villa (48) have bettered the Cherries' tally of 45 points.

    Their overall total of 48 for this campaign, meanwhile, is a new top-flight club record.

    Though they were beaten 2-1 by Brentford on Saturday, they could still secure a top-half finish when they visit Chelsea for their final game on Sunday, should other results go their way.

    Last week, Iraola was rewarded for his fine work with a nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, alongside Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Unai Emery.

    On Monday, the club confirmed he had also penned a one-year extension to the deal he agreed last June, which was set to expire at the end of 2024-25.

    "I'm very happy to sign the contract. For me, it is a matter of renewing the confidence from both sides," Iraola told the club's website.

    "We have had a good experience with our first season together in the Premier League, and I am happy that both sides want to continue the relationship further."

  • Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women

    Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.

    Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.

    Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.

    "The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.

    "We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."

    Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.

    Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.

    "If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.

    "We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.

    "We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.