Stephen Clemence: Derby defeat was not the only motivation for Barrow

Posted Sunday, August 25, 2024 by PA

Barrow manager Stephen Clemence insists his players were not just motivated by last weekend’s Cumbrian derby defeat as they bounced back with a 4-0 thrashing of Port Vale.

The Bluebirds produced a disappointing performance in losing to Carlisle but were hugely impressive in the second half at the SO Legal Stadium after a tight opening 45 minutes.

It allowed them to defeat the Valiants for the second time this month after knocking them out of the Carabao Cup at the same venue just under two weeks ago.

Former Tottenham and Birmingham midfielder Clemence said: “Derby games – I’ve played in some very big ones myself – and whatever level of them are normally very tight affairs and people are probably more scared of losing them than going to try and win the game.

“I didn’t think we got outplayed last week – we came out on the wrong side, didn’t create enough, I’ve admitted that.

“But I felt today if we came out and played anything like we could do, it would be a very good game, and that’s how it’s turned out to be.

“But I wasn’t using last week as a motivation, it’s about what we do every week and we how we try to hurt opponents and today it’s worked.

“The first goal in any division is always important and thankfully we got it today and went on to score quite a few goals, which is always nice in front of the home supporters.”

Ged Garner opened the scoring for Barrow after 54 minutes with a shot on the turn that found the bottom corner before Emile Acquah doubled the lead with an emphatic finish.

Kian Spence quickly made it three from close range, with Dom Telford rounding things off in stoppage time by dispatching Elliot Newby’s cut-back.

Port Vale boss Darren Moore said: “It looked like when the [first] goal went in, we just never reset and applied ourselves and it just looked like the pitch, for whatever reason, opened up.

“It just looked like players were running in on goal and scoring in positions where we don’t expect people to get into.

“So, from a defensive point of view, and I’m not just talking about one or two individuals, the team as a whole just didn’t seem right, and I’m looking into that from a mentality point of view.

“Up until that point, the game was more or less even stevens, but I knew the first goal was going to be important today.

“Even though it fell to them, we had a glorious opportunity to get back into the game, we didn’t capitalise, but it still doesn’t warrant the last 35 minutes of the game. That was just not good enough.”