Barlow in caretaker charge

Barlow, assistant manager to Gary Megson before his departure yesterday, will take the reins for the crucial clash at Vale Park but is unlikely to be considered as a candidate to take the job permanently.

"You must maintain that belief, that determination, that desire - if you lose one of those you might as well not turn up," he said.

"We have had this all season, but we have to start playing away from home. It is not going to go away.

"Either we deal with it or we wave the white flag and surrender - and we are not going to do that."