Barrow vs Yeovil Town Predictions

It’s been a problematic start to the new campaign for Barrow, who come into this match having won one and lost three of their four National League matches. Manager Ian Evatt will be hoping that returning home, where they won a week ago, helps his players to improve after their mid-week defeat. Yeovil will be looking for more of the same after they won away from home on Tuesday night.

Barrow did come unstuck on Tuesday evening, though it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Evatt’s men, who certainly didn’t fail to compete at Edgeley Park. In fact, they did a little bit more than just compete, as they came out on top in terms of both expected goals and shots for. An expected goal difference of +0.31 doesn’t suggest that they ought to have won the game, but it certainly points towards their defeat being somewhat unjust.

The main problem for Barrow over the first few weeks of the season has been that they’ve allowed teams to outperform them in terms of creativity, which has stemmed from them being too open at the back. During the early weeks, they’ve conceded at least twice in 100% of their matches, while they’ve surrendered an average of 1.45 expected goals.

Fortunately for the hosts, Yeovil have also experienced defensive problems. They did get the job done on the road during the week, while they’ve only lost one of their opening four matches. Although the side relegated from League Two at the end of the last term boasts just one clean sheet, they’ve given plenty away in terms of chances.

Prior to Tuesday’s win at Stonebridge Road, Yeovil have shipped expected goals figures of 1.62, 1.19 and 1.8. Interestingly, they recently failed to keep a clean sheet and conceded 1.62 expected goals against Stockport, who Barrow scored twice against just a few days ago.

In the betting, ‘Both Teams to Score’ catches the eye. Barrow have had clear defensive issues this term, so a Yeovil side that notched three away from home on Tuesday night shouldn’t have too many problems going forward. That said, the hosts can most certainly compete going forward, especially as they scored twice, creating 1.58 expected goals for, against a Stockport side that drew 1-1 with Yeovil a week ago.

All in all, given the respective defensive performances of both during the early weeks of the new campaign, ‘Both Teams to Score’ stands out as a viable option. Punters looking to nail the score-line can take a punt on a 1-1 draw. Both teams have looked relatively weak at the back, though neither have looked overly powerful going forward, averaging 1.92 expected goals for between them, so a relatively low-scoring draw appeals.