Barrow boss Pete Wild hailed his players’ professional performance after they grafted to a 1-0 win at home to Newport.
The Bluebirds made it five unbeaten, courtesy of Cole Stockton’s 20th-minute goal, but remain in sixth place in League Two.
Wild admitted his only negative was that they did not add to Stockton’s goal in a game played in treacherous gales.
“That was a big win,” he said. “I’ve been really impressed with Newport and how they go about their business. We knew we had to try to match their intensity early on and I thought we did that.
“Having the conditions with us in the first half and scoring so early on was really pleasing. I was just frustrated that we didn’t carry that momentum on to half-time and to go in only 1-0 up was a bit annoying really.
“But we came out in the second half and with the way they’ve dealt with the conditions, and the way they’ve kept Newport at bay, it was a really professional performance.
“We’ve had two or three really big opportunities and we haven’t taken them, that’s the most frustrating thing but in the end they’ve dealt with it so well and I’m pleased to get over the line today.
“The experience we’ve got in the back line was vital, they dealt with the conditions well, especially in the second half. We showed real character against a team that have been really good.
“As I say, the only frustrating thing was that we haven’t taken more of our chances but I thought the way we controlled the game, especially in the last 15 minutes, was excellent.”
Newport manager Graham Coughlan was bitterly disappointed with his players.
With the chances of a late surge from mid-table into the play-off picture slimming, he questioned the desire they showed on a day when rolled-up sleeves, grit and determination were paramount.
“I feel awful after that game,” moaned the Exiles boss. “We probably got what we deserved out of it. The most disappointing part for me was the lack of hunger and the lack of desire to go and win a game of football.
“If you want to get into the top 10 you’ve got to show a lot more hunger than that, you’ve got to win your battles and your individual duels and we didn’t win enough of them today, in terms of first contacts and second balls. There were too many players having an off day and that’s probably the main contributor to losing the game.
“The conditions were awful, for both teams, it was a really difficult day, I get that, but conditions shouldn’t have anything to do with desire, work-rate, attitude and commitment, and this group has it in abundance, but we didn’t display it today.
“The conditions meant we couldn’t get out in the first half and we had no platform to get up the pitch. Then in the second half we were in the ascendancy with the conditions but when we wanted those moments we just didn’t have enough quality to go and open the opposition up.
“We had a couple of chances, but they were few and far between. We needed to do more to win the game today and we didn’t. That’s what’s annoying me at this moment in time.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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