CITY’S winless run continued as they grabbed a point from a dull game with Barrow.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at a chilly Valley Parade last night and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Bobby Pointon was only on the pitch for about half an hour but he provided the zip and energy lacking that had been missing up to then.

Pointon provided the cross for Andy Cook’s equaliser and gave the cold and bored fans something to finally get excited about.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Andy Cook was once again in the right place at the right time for City when he nodded home his 12th goal of the season to make an uncomfortable night marginally more acceptable.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

It was an awful game to watch and City looked sluggish throughout, taking too many touches and not wanting to grab the initiative when they got near the Barrow box.

TACTICS

Graham Alexander made three changes from the Morecambe FA Cup reverse.

Lewis Richards returned to left wing-back, allowing Brad Halliday to revert to the right side of the back three – where Neill Byrne began his three-game ban.

The other changes were both in midfield where Alex Pattison made his first start since Harrogate. Clarke Oduor also stepped up from the bench as Jamie Walker and Bobby Pointon dropped to the subs.

Ciaran Kelly also made a welcome return to the 18 – his first involvement since ankle surgery in September.

REFEREE: Thomas Parsons (Manchester)

BOOKINGS: Sanderson, Cook, Kavanagh, Richards (City); Kirk, Stokes, Farman (Barrow)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 4 Barrow 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 1 Barrow 1

CORNERS: City 5 Barrow 4

FOULS: City 14 Barrow 7

POSSESSION %: City 53 Barrow 47

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: S Walker 6, Halliday 6 (Baldwin 61min, 7), Huntington 7, Shepherd 7, Benn 5, Smallwood 6, Richards 5, Pattison 6 (J Walker 61min, 6), Oduor 5 (Pointon 61min, 8), Sanderson 6 (Kavanagh 60min, 6), Cook 7. Subs (not used): Oliver, Kelly, Doyle.

BARROW: Farman 6, Vassell 6, Canavan 6, Stokes 6, Jackson 7, Gotts 7, Campbell 6, Newby 6 (Mahoney 74min), Feely 7, Kirk 6 (Spence 69min), Dallas 5 (Acquah 74min). Subs (not used): Tiensia, Popov, Telford.