SCENE-SETTER...
United come into it on the back of successive defeats at the hands of Stevenage and Salford City, and will be seeking a win that could potentially take them up to 18th in the division.
The visitors arrived at the Sands Venue Stadium last month having just parted company with David Dunn, but they are now under the stewardship of former Grimsby Town manager Michael Jolley.
This month, they welcome United one place below them in the division and three points adrift, with a win for the Bluebirds bringing them level on points. Barrow have an eight-goal swing in their favour on goal difference, with a win for the Iron opening up at six-point gap.
THE OPPOSITION...
The last campaign saw them promoted back into the EFL after 48 years away, after they ended the season top of the National League.
The Holker Street side will be seeking a first league win since Boxing Day when they saw off Port Vale 2-0 at Vale Park.
In the meantime though, they did draw 1-1 at home to Tranmere Rovers thanks to a penalty from Scott Quigley.
Goalkeeper Joel Dixon tops the appearance charts with 22 league starts to his name, while Quigley is top scorer with five league goals.
Former Iron left-back Kgosi Ntlhe joined in the summer following his release from us, and has made six appearances in the league so far, not featuring for the side since December 5th.
It will be a second family affair of the season in the dugouts too with Josh Lillis, formerly of the Iron and son of assistant manager Mark, at the Bluebirds as player/goalkeeping coach.
TEAM NEWS...
New arrivals Jem Karacan and George Taft both made their debuts in midweek after signing on a free transfer and on loan from Bolton Wanderers respectively. Karacan made it through 70 minutes of the match, while Taft played the full 90.
Myles Hippolyte and Manny Onariase (both ankle) have continued to be involved in training as they edge closer to a return to contention while Aaron Jarvis (hamstring) continues to be missing for a total of 10 weeks after his scan results revealed a tear.
Jordan Hallam (thigh) and Harrison McGahey (hamstring) were both due to play for the Under-23s on Wednesday against Walsall as they stepped up their returns, but the game was called off due to a frozen pitch. Junior Brown (thigh) returned to the starting line-up in midweek against Salford.
Kevin van Veen is underdoing his rehabilitation at the club following an injection on his hamstring injury which required rest over the festive period. His injury will keep him out for a total of around 10 weeks, while Fin Shrimpton (ankle) is on the sidelines.
Andy Dales faces two-to-three weeks out with an ankle injury sustained for the Under-23s last week.
Olufela Olomola faces around two months on the sidelines following a knee injury sustained after coming off the bench against Bolton Wanderers in November.
PAST MEETINGS...
It will be our first away encounter the Bluebirds, who were promoted from the National League under the leadership of Ian Evatt last season, since October 1971 when the Iron were 1-0 victors.
There has since been two home games, one at the Old Show Ground and one at the Sands Venue Stadium. Both have resulted in 2-1 wins, with the latest last month coming with goals from Abo Eisa and a stoppage time header from Jordan Clarke.
| SEASON - DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2020-21 - Tue 15 Dec | LG 2 | Iron 2-1 Barrow | Eisa, Clarke |
| 1971-72 - Sat 12 Feb | DIV 4 | Iron 2-1 Barrow | Fletcher 2 |
| 1971-72 - Sat 23 Oct | DIV 4 | Barrow 0-1 Iron | Kirk |
| 1970-71 - Mon 8 Mar | DIV 4 | Barrow 1-2 Iron | Davidson, Heath |
| 1970-71 - Tue 22 Sep | DIV 4 | Iron 1-1 Barrow | Keegan (p) |
| 1967-68 - Sat 11 May | DIV 3 | Barrow 2-1 Iron | Kerr |
| 1967-68 - Sat 17 Feb | DIV 3 | Iron 2-4 Barrow | Lindsey, Sloan |
| 1957-58 - Thu 17 Apr | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 1-0 Barrow | Stokes |
| 1957-58 - Sat 29 Mar | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 0-1 Iron | Davies |
| 1956-57 - Sat 22 Dec | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 1-1 Barrow | Haigh |
| 1956-57 - Sat 25 Aug | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 1-2 Iron | Brown, Fletcher |
| 1955-56 - Sat 3 Mar | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 2-2 Iron | Callaghan, Haigh |
| 1955-56 - Sat 22 Oct | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 2-0 Barrow | Gregory, Brownsword (p) |
| 1954-55 - Sat 22 Jan | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 3-0 Barrow | Whitfield 2, Mosby |
| 1954-55 - Sat 11 Sep | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 1-3 Iron | Gregory, Brown, Haigh |
| 1953-54 - Sat Mar 20 | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 1-2 Iron | Gregory 2 |
| 1953-54 - Sat Oct 31 | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 3-2 Barrow | Jones 2, Sharpe |
| 1952-53 - Sat Dec 20 | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 1-2 Barrow | White |
| 1952-53 - Sat Aug 23 | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 2-1 Iron | Mynard |
| 1951-52 - Thu May 1 | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 0-0 Barrow | |
| 1951-52 - Sat Feb 23 | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 2-1 Iron | Hubbard |
| 1950-51 - Sat Jan 13 | DIV 3 (N) | Iron 1-0 Barrow | Boyes |
| 1950-51 - Sat Sep 9 | DIV 3 (N) | Barrow 1-0 Iron |
ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE TWO...
Bolton Wanderers v Cheltenham Town (3pm)
Bradford City v Crawley Town (3pm)
Colchester United v Cambridge United (3pm)
Forest Green Rovers v Port Vale (3pm)
Grimsby Town v Southend United (3pm)
Harrogate Town v Exeter City (3pm)
Leyton Orient v Morecambe (3pm)
Mansfield Town v Carlisle United (3pm)
Newport County v Salford City (3pm)
Stevenage v Tranmere Rovers (3pm)
Walsall v Oldham Athletic (3pm)
