Last updated at 14:35, Tuesday, 17 April 2012

STRIKER Andy Cook and skipper Phil Bolland look set to be thrown straight back into the Barrow AFC side.

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The duo have missed the Bluebirds’ last two games – a 2-2 draw with Southport and a 3-1 defeat against Cambridge United – through suspension.

Barrow manager Dave Bayliss, whose struggling side have picked up just one point from the last 27 available, fumed at AFC’s performance in their home defeat to mid-table rivals Cambridge on Saturday.

Changes to the starting XI are now expected for the season’s penultimate game at already-relegated Kettering Town this weekend.

Bayliss, who was able to name only three substitutes – goalkeeper Jack Cudworth, the versatile Cliff Moyo and injured defender Kelvin Lomax – for the last game due to injuries and suspensions, said: “On that performance (against Cambridge), they (Cook and Bolland) will be straight back in.

“All we want is players to force our hand to stay in the side. But that did not happen.

“If I had more subs I would have used them against Cambridge.

“And if I had a bigger squad I would make eight or nine changes for next weekend, but I don’t.”

Cook – Barrow’s top scorer in Blue Square Bet Premier with 16 goals – was sent off for the third time (one of which was later rescinded) this season in the 2-0 defeat at Gateshead earlier this month.

Experienced centre-half Bolland totted up his 10th yellow card of the campaign in the same game.

Both have now served their respective two-game bans and are ready to try and help Barrow end a nine-game winless run and finish the season on a high.

Since the Bluebirds beat Kettering 3-0 at Furness Building Society Stadium on February 18 – when Cook hit a double and Richie Baker a penalty – the Poppies have taken just four points from an available 36.

In their last outing on Saturday, Kettering were thrashed 6-1 at play-off hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers, conceding five of the goals in the second half.

Kettering caretaker boss Ashley Westwood is, however, confident his charges will give a better account of themselves against Barrow at Nene Park.

“There will certainly be a reaction to this,” said Westwood.

“That won’t happen to us in the next game at home. I’m sure we will make a better game of it than we did at Kidderminster, who are up there challenging.”

First published at 13:09, Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk