NEW Lions boss Paul Cox will be on familiar ground tonight as he leads Guiseley to their first Vanarama National League away game under his stewardship against his former club Barrow.

The Bluebirds are only just above the drop zone in fifth from bottom but are four points better off than second from bottom Guiseley.

Barrow are also unbeaten at Holker Street after two wins and two draws this term, while the Lions are yet to pick up even a point away from home after four defeats.

Barrow are the only side inside the bottom seven to have a positive goal difference – Guiseley’s is minus 12 but the new boss saw some promising signs in Saturday’s goalless draw at home against mid-table Eastleigh.

Ahead of his return in the opposition dug out at Holker Street, Cox said: “At Barrow for my first away game – you know, football always does this to you.

“Overall I was pleased with the way the players have bought into the work ethic we have asked of them since we came in.

"It was a whirlwind first week for me, and very strange to just have the players for two night-training sessions.

“And even then Thursday was only an hour because the nights are drawing in. It’s lovely when you have the players on a full-time basis because you can get so much more over to them.

“But we’re on the start of a journey and we have to activate short-term goals, and on that front I think we laid some good foundations last Saturday.”

Farsley Celtic are also in action tonight and they will be smarting as they host Grantham Town in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.

The Celts dropped from third to fifth after a 4-2 defeat at new leaders Warrington Town at the weekend. If the result had been reversed it would have seen Farsley at the summit.

Following Stourbridge’s 3-2 victory over Barwell last night, the Celts dropped another place to sixth. However, they remain just three points off the summit.

The tough games just keep on coming for Adam Lakeland’s men though as they host a Grantham side currently in third after 3-2 win against Workington at the weekend.

There are also two Buildbase FA Vase first qualifying round ties scheduled after both Thackley and Liversedge were thwarted by the weather on Saturday.

Both face rescheduled away ties, with the Dennyboys travelling to Padiham, while Sedge head to Prestwich Heys.

The inclement weather has been even worse on the western side of the Pennines, and both of the ties are subject to pitch inspections.