Shaun Whalley’s early solo strike gave Accrington a 1-0 victory against a Barrow side who could have gone top with a lunchtime win.

Stanley’s winner came after eight minutes when Jimmy Knowles clipped a long ball forward to send Whalley running clear.

The 37-year-old cut inside and fired low into the bottom corner for his third goal of the season.

It was a third successive victory for Stanley, who were at the foot of the table at the beginning of October.

Barrow had plenty of possession but their first real chance didn’t come until the 22nd minute when Sam Foley’s shot was narrowly wide.

Kian Spence fired over for the Bluebirds while a Liam Coyle header and a Dara Costelloe strike weren’t far off for Stanley in a first half of limited chances.

Barrow pressed around the Stanley goal without making too many clear-cut chances after the break.

Donald Love cleared a Theo Vassell header off the line while goalkeeper Billy Crellin denied Ged Garner and Spence as the Bluebirds slipped to a fourth defeat in five league games.