Morecambe boss Ged Brannan hailed a “fantastic weekend” after his side sealed a second successive win to keep their play-off hopes very much alive.
The Shrimps followed up a 2-1 win over Accrington on Good Friday with a similar success against Barrow, with early goals from David Tutonda and Gwion Edwards giving them the advantage before Ben Whitfield’s 89th-minute strike ensured a frantic finale.
Brannan said: “It was a fantastic win for us and a fantastic weekend with two derby wins that keeps us right in there.
“I can’t praise the lads enough today because they showed what massive hearts they have. We started the game superbly and got two goals but they had us pinned in our half after the break and we had to show great character to seal the win.
“We said we would press them right from the start and it worked well for us and we got the two early goals. Our set-pieces were excellent today and put us in a good place but we had to show the other side of our game at the end to keep them at arm’s length and keep hold of the three points.”
Tutonda gave Morecambe the lead in the fourth minute when he got the final touch to a Charlie Brown corner.
And the home side doubled their lead seven minutes later when Barrow gave the ball away just outside their own area and Edwards was given a free run on goal to round Paul Farman and slot the ball home.
Barrow looked to hit back, with Archie Mair saving well from Cole Stockton in the first half and getting down to block a late Emile Acquah header.
The Bluebirds set up a frantic final when Whitfield scored from close range after Mair had saved from Sam Foley but the Shrimps held on to clinch the victory.
Barrow boss Pete Wild felt his side dominated possession but were undone by the two early goals.
He said: “It was a frustrating afternoon because we completely dominated but we conceded a poor set-piece early on and then gifted them a chance for a second.
“That was so unlike us and when you give away a two-goal lead you find it hard to get back in the game.
“We tried something different in the second half and it worked a dream and had them pinned in their own penalty box for most of the half but we just couldn’t get the ball over the line.
“I’ve had to tell the players that it was just one of those days and to put the result to the back of their minds and get back to it on Saturday.”
Arsenal handed another injury blow as White ruled out for 'months'
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal defender Ben White is facing "months" on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury.
White had been dealing with several issues all season and has missed five games in all competitions for the Gunners already this term.
After struggling through until the November international break, the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery in order to finally address the ongoing problems.
It serves as a bitter blow for Arteta, with only Thomas Parety (13) making more interceptions than White (11) for Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign.
Though Arteta confirmed that the surgery was successful, White is set for a lengthy spell out of the team.
"It has been different kinds of struggles. It has never been the same thing, but we had to make a decision. He has not improved over the last few weeks, unfortunately," said Arteta.
"We know that Ben is going to push every boundary, but it got to the point where we have to protect the player and we decided to do the surgery.
"He agreed with that and it is going to keep him out for a few months."
Asked for a specific time frame, Arteta added: "We have to see how he reacts post-surgery. I don't expect it to be half a year, but I cannot tell you exactly."
It offers a concern for Arteta in the full-back area, with the Spaniard also revealing on Friday that Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out as well for a bit".
There was, however, some positive injury news for the Gunners ahead of welcoming Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday.
After not featuring for England during the international break, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be fit to feature against Nuno Espirito Santo's side.
Leandro Trossard will also be available for Arteta despite picking up a hamstring injury during the international break with Belgium.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori is also in contention for Saturday's game after a month out with a knee problem.
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.
Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino
Serie A side Genoa have confirmed the departure of their head coach Alberto Gilardino, with Patrick Vieira reportedly on his way in.
Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, leaves the club with them sitting just one point above the relegation size with 10 points from 12 matches this season.
A former striker who played for clubs including Genoa, Parma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, Gilardino took charge of Genoa in 2022 and helped them earn promotion to the top division before a 11th-place finish during the 2023-24 season.
"The club thanks Gilardino for the goals achieved together over the years and wishes him the best for his career," Genoa said in a statement.
The 42-year-old saw his side salvage a late 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como in their last match before the international break.
Genoa were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the second round following a defeat to Sampdoria on penalties in September.
Arsenal legend Vieira is set to replace him, according to multiple reports.
The former France midfielder has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg by mutual consent in July.
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