Wanderers kick off the Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage with a trip to Ian Evatt’s former club, Barrow.

Evatt guided the Bluebirds to promotion into the Football League for the first time in 48 years before heading to Bolton in 2020.

The Whites won the competition in 2023 and reached the quarter-final stage last season before losing at Blackpool on penalties.

Wanderers will be keen to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat against Exeter in the league after goals from Kamari Doyle and Millenic Alli either side of half time.

Team news

Scott Arfield misses out after picking up a hamstring injury during the Carabao Cup win at Shrewsbury.

Eoin Toal missed the defeat against Exeter with a muscle tear suffered in training at the back end of last week.

Wanderers’ international contingent, which includes Toal, Dion Charles, Luke Southwood, Josh Sheehan and Chris Forino, are all unavailable.

As for the hosts, Mazeed Ogungbo, Sam Barnes, and Chris Stokes are all back in training but Rory Feely and Connor Mahoney are not in contention.

Opposition lowdown

Barrow have had a promising start to the League Two campaign and currently sit third in the table, behind second-place Walsall on goal difference.

The Bluebirds have won back-to-back league games against Port Vale and Harrogate, as well as a penalty shoot-out victory against Derby in the Carabao Cup.

Former Gillingham boss Stephen Clemence took charge at Holker Street over the summer, replacing Pete Wild in the hot seat.

Head-to-head

Wanderers have only faced Barrow five times in competitive fixtures, with a record of four wins and a draw.

Evatt’s men ran out 1-0 winners in the League Cup last season thanks to Zac Ashworth’s goal on the stroke of half time.

The Whites drew 3-3 on their last trip to Holker Street after goals from Peter Kioso, Eoin Doyle and Antoni Sarcevic.

Predicted line-up

(Image: buildlineup.com)