Aston Villa rounded off the group stage of their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Barrow at Holker Street on Tuesday night. The League Two outfit, managed by former Villa coach and Birmingham City midfielder Stephen Clemence, ran out comfortable winners in what was actually a dead rubber for them, thanks to goals from attackers Dom Telford, Theo Vassell and Andy Dallas.
Villa were trailing inside two minutes. Having built up a burgeoning attack which broke down, Barrow turned the young Villans back to front and Telford took his chance when spotting young Sam Proctor off of his line from way out - the Barrow striker nailed his attempted lob and Villa found themselves behind almost immediately.
That might've been a shock to the system, because Josep Gombau's young guns were on the ropes for a little while. A poor pass at the back from Ethan Amundsen-Day was leapt upon by Connor Mahoney and he slipped in Telford, who fired a low shot straight at Proctor from close range.
The Villa keeper shortly afterwards punched a corner as far as Katia Kouyate, whose header cleared the entire, crowded, penalty area and was on target - thankfully for Villa, Amundsen-Day was on hand to flick a header of his own off the line. Going forwards, it was comparatively a struggle for a side who'd bagged four in their previous two EFL Trophy games - and all four penalties in the shoot-out success at Bolton.
Villa picked up a little in the second half and the introduction of Trai-Varn Mulley at the break brought a little life, but they failed to respond and were targeted with set-pieces which Barrow cashed in with. Despite the effort of Proctor - especially with Barrow's third, which he initially stopped before Dallas prodded in the rebound - the Bluebirds breezed into a three-goal lead.
Barrow's man of the match Vassell met a Mahoney corner three quarters of the way into the game, after a superb delivery from winger Connor Mahoney. Then, fewer than ten minutes later, Dallas rose high - denied by Proctor, who couldn't complete the game after suffering concussion - and eventually tapped home a third to give the score-line a comprehensive look.
Player ratings from tonight
Nothing disastrous, nothing scintillating. Despite the result, many Villa players acquitted themselves well. Now comes the wait for news from Bolton, where it is 1-1. If Fleetwood take two points - as in win the penalty shoot out if the score remains the same - then Villa will be knocked out of the competition. We need a Bolton win - in normal time or on pens.
Full time
Villa well beaten tonight but it will hopefully be immaterial - all eyes on Bolton v Fleetwood tonight, which kicked off 45 minutes later here. Bolton currently lead 1-0 - if it stays that way, Villa will be through to the next round.
Super save!
Thierry Katsukunya almost scored an unintentional own goal - I suppose all own goals are unintentional! - certainly one he didn't know much about. Lewis in goal hasn't been given much time to impress but his reflexes from close range there were mightily impressive.
Sub
Villa are using their sixth sub of the night - a concussion sub - as Proctor cannot continue. Sam Lewis comes on in his place for the remainder of this game.
Injury problem
Keeper Proctor is in some bother here. Rushed out to stop Kouyate, who had broken through on goal. Denied the Barrow attacker but is down and receiving treatment.
Barrow add a third
Another set piece. This time Andy Dallas rises high and heads towards goal. Proctor actually makes a really smart stop but he can't hold onto the ball and Dallas nudges the rebound over the line from a yard out.
Goal
Simple set piece. Can't say Barrow over the course of the night don't deserve it. Mahoney's corner is swung in and Theo Vassell rises highest and powers his header past young Proctor in goal.
Penalty shout!
I think that was Patterson who burst down the left and looked to cross. Ball must've overrun and a goal kick is given - just as well for Barrow, as the cross struck an arm quite clearly. Ref blew his whistle, which you wouldn't do for a goal kick - can only imagine the linesman told him in his earpiece that the ball had run out of play as the man in the middle was about to point to the spot.
Block
Almost opened up there. Kirk pulls the trigger inside the box after an excellent pass but Kerr Smith recovers, slides and makes an important block. Mind you, from the resulting corner, number nine Dallas - only just on - rattles the post with a header. More warning signs for Villa.
Yellow card
Charlie Pavey goes into the book after he is caught in possession and late on his opponent.
Attacking substitution
Trai-Varn Mulley is on for Ewan Simpson here.
Andy Dallas is on for goalscorer Telford, for Barrow.
Half time
Villa trail at the break. In truth they could've been further behind but they did pick up a little in the final 10 minutes or so of the first half, as Barrow sat back. Villa definitely have grown into it and maybe didn't want half time, but there ought to be some enthusiasm about the way they approach the second half.
Not an Austin MacPhee special
Villa had a dangerous free kick just then. Kane Taylor played it short to Alcock and made a run down the left, receiving the ball back first time to deliver. Cross was headed away and Villa had a chance to recycle the attack from the edge of the box, but Simpson and then Rowe end up turning backwards - the latter makes a mess of it and Kouyate and Kirk have a chance to spring a counter but the former fluffs his chance.
Off the line!
Proctor comes and punches a corner only to the edge of the box, and Kouyate heads the ball over the crowded area. Amundsen-Day has to flick a header off the line. Barrow could easily be further in front tonight.
Another big chance
Kouyate heads wide after rising to meet a cross at the back post. That was pretty easy pickings for Barrow there, but the midfielder couldn't convert. Villa haven't really got going yet in the final third, and they've not looked as 'on it' as in their previous EFL Trophy outings. Yet.
Got away with one
Another loose ball at the back. Mahoney pounces on it and slips in Telford, who has already scored and put one past the post. This one is straight at Proctor, who has responded well in general to the unfortunate manner of the opening goal.
Almost two
Villa are trying to play their game but they've looked a little vulnerable since falling behind. A square ball across the back isn't controlled by Ethan Amundsen-Day and he gives up possession with Telford lurking. Proctor rushes out, and he coolly dinks the ball over the keeper but past the far post. Close shave.
Goal
Villa had begun on the front foot but Barrow lead. Villa were turned back to front in midfield and Dom Telford from just inside the Villa half has spotted Sam Proctor off his line and has audaciously lobbed him from way out. Less than ideal start. Villa fall behind for the first time in this competition.
Teams are out
There is a smattering of hardy Villa supporters here in the away end, kudos to those who have travelled up. The teams are out on the pitch, Villa in their traditional claret and blue.
Last time out
The one and only time I've ever been to Holker Street was also with Villa, a little over three years ago, when a young side sent out by Dean Smith in the EFL Cup tore Barrow apart and ran out 6-0 winners.
The team that night...
Steer; Guilbert, Tuanzbe, Hause, Targett; Hourihane, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka; Philogene, El Ghazi, Archer
The goalscorers...
Archer (3), El Ghazi (2), Guilbert
The Barrow team
Led to believe this is a strong team, considering the dead rubber this is...
Farman; Campbell, Canavan, Gotts, Kouyate, Telford, Mahoney, Feely, Kirk, Tiensia, Vassell
Subs: Stanway, Eccleston, Dallas, Newby, Stokes, Jackson, Weston
The Barrow manager these days is former Villa first-team coach Stephen Clemence, who joined the club with Steve Bruce and parted with the manager, too. Since been at West Brom with Bruce after leaving Villa but has branched out in the meantime as a manager of his own. He spent last season at Gillingham but left in April and took over at Barrow ahead of this season.
Barrow are 11th in the league but have won one of their last 11 games in all competitions and are winless in five in League Two. They had been top after seven games after an excellent start to the season.
The Villa team
Not as strong as the side at Fleetwood, but perhaps more senior across the pitch than the side who valiantly took two points off Bolton last time out...
Proctor; Patterson, Amundsen-Day, Smith, Rowe, Alcock, Simpson, Pavey, Jimoh-Aloba; Moore
Subs: Lutz, Katsukunya, Fortes, Jenner, Varn-Mulley, Burgess, Lewis
Good evening!
A warm welcome to a chilly Holker Street. Three and a half hours up the M6 later, I'm all set up in the Barrow press box and awaiting kick off. The chatter locally here is that it'll be a particularly low attendance tonight - Barrow have already been knocked out and cannot progress into the next round of the competition.
