Southend United welcome Barrow to Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon looking to continue an impressive start to the National League season. The Shrimpers begin the weekend second in the table with 20 points from nine matches, while Barrow sit 17th on nine points after returning to winning ways last weekend.
Southend arrive in excellent form and are unbeaten in their last five league matches, taking 11 points from a possible 15. A 1-1 draw at Woking was followed by a 3-2 home victory over Yeovil Town and a 2-2 draw at Carlisle United before Kieron Dyer’s side recorded successive wins against Tamworth and Gateshead.
Last weekend produced Southend’s most emphatic performance of the season. The Shrimpers scored five times before half-time on their way to a remarkable 6-1 victory at Gateshead, with Sam Austin completing a hat-trick and Harry Cardwell scoring twice. Kyle McAdam also found the net, while Zavier Massiah-Edwards provided two assists during a devastating opening spell.
Southend have been particularly productive in front of goal during their recent unbeaten run, scoring 15 times across those five matches. They have also found the net in all nine National League fixtures this season, taking their overall tally to 23 goals — the joint-highest total in the division alongside leaders Boreham Wood.
Barrow travel to Essex having secured a valuable 1-0 victory over Aldershot Town last weekend. Rekeem Harper scored the decisive goal in the 64th minute at Holker Street, while Kennedy Digie and substitute Seb Thompson both struck the woodwork as the Bluebirds looked to extend their advantage.
That victory ended a three-match winless sequence for Barrow. Adam Murray’s side had drawn 2-2 at Worthing before suffering a 1-0 defeat at Solihull Moors, having previously recorded an impressive 3-0 home victory over Sutton United. Their last five league matches have produced two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Barrow’s campaign has generally been considerably tighter than Southend’s. The Bluebirds have scored 11 goals and conceded 12 in nine matches, with four of their fixtures decided by a single goal. Their victory over Aldershot was also their second clean sheet of the season.
The clubs have not met since the 2020/21 League Two campaign. Southend won both encounters that season, securing a 1-0 victory at Roots Hall in January 2021 before winning 2-1 at Holker Street on the final day of the campaign. Saturday will therefore be the first competitive meeting between the sides in more than five years.
Southend begin the weekend second in the National League with 20 points from nine matches, having won six, drawn two and lost once. They have scored 23 goals and conceded 12 for a goal difference of +11. Barrow sit 17th with nine points after two wins, three draws and four defeats, scoring 11 and conceding 12.
Saturday brings together a Southend side carrying considerable attacking momentum and a Barrow team buoyed by last weekend’s victory. The Shrimpers will be looking to extend their five-match unbeaten run and maintain the pressure on leaders Boreham Wood, while Barrow head to Roots Hall seeking consecutive league victories for the first time this season.
