Dale picked up a point in our opening game of 2023, after a goalless draw at Barrow AFC.

Jim Bentley made four changes from the side that started at Doncaster Rovers. Aidy White, Jimmy Keohane, Sam Graham and Danny Lloyd came in for Cameron John, Toumani Diagouraga, Ben Nelson and Abraham Odoh.

The hosts created a few half chances inside the opening ten minutes, with Billy Waters sending a half-volley wide and Richie Bennett heading a cross from the left over.

Femi Seriki fired Dale’s only effort of the first period well over from 20-yards, after Liam Kelly’s delivery into the area was partially cleared.

Ben Whitfield whipped a delivery in the left side which curled narrowly wide of the far post, before he forced Richard O’Donnell into action for the first time shortly before the break, hitting a weak effort straight at the Dale stopper who held.

After the break, Jordan Stevens fired well over from distance and Bennett headed a cross from the right wide of the back post.

Kelly and Scott Quigley both fired efforts off target as Dale began to create some half chances midway through the second-half.

O’Donnell held Patrick Brough’s low shot before Barrow goalkeeper Scott Moloney had to claw away Lloyd’s free-kick, which was about to creep in at the far post.

Ian Henderson, Tyrese Sinclair and Odoh were all introduced by Bentley as Dale went in search of a winner.

Waters and Josh Gordon sent volleys off target for the Bluebirds, whilst Bennett hit a speculative effort from distance narrowly wide in added time, as the game ended goalless.

Dale XI | O’Donnell, Seriki, White, Ebanks-Landell, L Kelly, Ball, Rodney, Keohane, Graham, Quigley, Lloyd.

Subs | B Kelly, Odoh, Nelson, Sinclair, Diagouraga, John, Henderson.