Vanarama National League: Barrow 0 Guiseley 0

GUISELEY remain second from bottom in the Vanarama National League following a second consecutive goalless draw under new boss Paul Cox after a difficult evening at Holker Street.

Last night’s hosts Barrow are Cox’s former club, and it was his first trip there as an opposition manager after he began this season in charge of the Bluebirds.

He saw his new side hold Barrow and bank a deserved point but it was a largely forgettable game.

The first half produced the better of the half-chances created as the Bluebirds’ Bedsente Gomis was denied by a good block from Lions’ keeper Joe Green.

Asa Hall was the next to test the visitors’ stopper but it was Guiseley who came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval.

A cross-shot from Lions right back Connor Brown hit a post and Jake Lawlor headed wide as he tried to readjust to get full contact on the rebound.

There were even fewer notable moments in the second half in what were extremely poor conditions.

Following his return to Holker Street, Cox said: “I think we have to look at the bigger picture, and one of the hurdles we face is that the majority of our players had put a shift in at work before coming here.

“They have shown a magnificent mindset and, I think, been unlucky with a few chances late on.

"I’m getting the boys to try and believe in the 4-4-2 system that we’re playing and how we can affect opposing teams with it.

“Possibly our best chance was when we hit the post and, I think it was Jake (Lawlor) again that the ball fell to but it went wide.”

Lawlor is a centre back or central defensive midfielder but his height is a  threat at set-pieces and he often nicks a goal.

The clearest opening in Saturday’s 0-0 at home to Eastleigh dropped for him but his shot flew over the target.

Cox knows there is work for him to do with the players he inherited but he also knows how daunting a trip to Barrow can be for visiting teams.

He added: “I’ve been the manager here (Barrow) and I know it’s not nice when you come up here on a Saturday, but to come on a Tuesday night, when there is a gale that absolutely saturates you with rain, I’m so proud of the players - the way they have performed and the way they’ve worked.

"Once again there is so much to build on and we’ve got to be happy with two tough fixtures that we’ve had to got a couple of points out of them.

“I thought we should have beaten Eastleigh but we laid some foundations in that game (Cox’s first as Guiseley manager) and again tonight, and all of a sudden we’re we are looking hard to beat.

“We’ve come up against two very good sides, and let me tell you, not many sides come up to Barrow and get something.”