Walsall slipped to a narrow defeat as Billy Waters’ first half goal proved to be enough to see Barrow take home three points.
Despite enjoying the majority of the possession during the contest, the Saddlers struggled to create clear cut chances on a frustrating afternoon.
Michael Flynn made two changes to the team that drew with Hartlepool United last weekend.
Liam Kinsella and Oisin McEntee both came into the starting XI in place of Robbie Willmott and Yann Songo’o who both dropped to the bench.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to Barrow when Jake Young burst through and shot on the angle but Owen Evans got down well to make the save.
Walsall’s brightest moments of the opening 20 minutes came via headers. The first from Taylor Allen which produced a fine save from Paul Farman before the offside flag went up and Manny Monthé also tried his luck but he headed just wide of the mark.
It was the Bluebirds who got their noses in front on 22 minutes though when Ben Whitfield’s shot was deflected into the path of Waters who fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Flynn reacted to the goal and made a double substitution on 33 minutes, replacing Kinsella and McEntee with Willmott and Jacob Maddox.
The Saddlers started to see more of the ball but didn’t trouble Farman’s goal in what was a lacklustre first half from the hosts.
Flynn made another double change at half time as he introduced Liam Gordon and Conor Wilkinson in place of Allen and Matty Stevens.
Both sides had good chances in the early exchanges of the second period. Sam McClelland had a header cleared off the line for the visitors before Gordon beat his man down the other end and delivered a cross to the back post that was met by Willmott but he diverted the ball wide.
Willmott was then forced off with a knock shortly after and replaced by Andy Williams.
The Saddlers dominated the ball in the second half but struggled to break down a stubborn Barrow defence and were restricted to half chances.
In the end, Barrow stood firm and took home all three points.
Evans; White, McEntee (Willmott 33’ – Williams 53’), Daniels, Monthé, Allen (Gordon 45’); Kinsella (Maddox 33’), Comley, Hutchinson; Knowles, Stevens (Wilkinson 45’)
Subs: Low, Songo’o
Attendance: 5018 (198 away)