Sam Foley heartened by Barrow’s battling draw against Accrington

New interim player-coach Sam Foley was heartened by Barrow’s performance against Accrington but a battling goalless draw could not stop them from slipping back into the relegation zone.

Foley is the Cumbrians’ fifth manager this season after taking over from Dino Maamria following the Bluebirds’ 2-0 midweek defeat against Bristol Rovers.

Paul Gallagher, Neil McDonald and Andy Whing, who started the season in charge, had previously occupied the hot seat.

Foley’s maiden game was not pretty and devoid of many chances, but the rookie gaffer, 39, felt it was good enough to keep him on the bench.

“Looking out there, I couldn’t get in the team,” said Foley after refusing to bring himself off the substitutes’ bench.

“The longer the game stayed at 0-0 I thought I would leave it to the lads.

“Before the game – in my head – I was probably the best player. After that, though, I will have to train a bit harder to see if I can get in the team!

“However, I am still the same person as I was when I was just a player. My aims and goals are the same; it’s about winning matches. I just have a bit more responsibility to do that.

“We are happy with the point but disappointed we didn’t take three. I thought we did enough to perhaps do that.

“We wanted to play with passion, pride and a bit of purpose, which we did. There is a lot to build on.

“What the fans saw was a team of players who care. They perhaps felt the players didn’t care.

“But they do and they showed that. If we add a bit of quality we expect results to turn in our favour.”

A game of few opportunities was almost settled in the final minute of normal time. Fortunately, for Barrow, the woodwork prevented substitute Dan Martin from scoring his first Stanley goal.

Paddy Madden scored the rebound but was ruled offside.

Accrington boss John Doolan said: “The lads gave everything. We knew it would be a battle because Barrow are scrapping for their lives.

“They want to take every point they can and tried to win the game. But so did we.

“We just lacked quality at times, a bit of composure. But it’s a clean sheet and good away point.”

Injury-hit Stanley stay 15th after an 11th clean sheet of the campaign, much to Doolan’s pleasure.

“Farrend Rawson was immense,” he said. “Devon Matthews was brilliant and Ollie (Wright) made some good catches.

“I can’t fault them but they need to show that extra bit of composure. We didn’t hurt them enough.”