NEIL Ashton has called on Barrow AFC to produce a big reaction at National League big guns Tranmere Rovers, while firing out a warning over the inconsistent form that is significantly curbing their progress.

The Bluebirds suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Bromley on Saturday, but they can get back on track by delivering a positive result at Prenton Park tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The left-back admits Barrow were ‘second best from minute one’ at Bromley, adding: “We didn’t deserve anything from the game, I don’t think their keeper had a save to make, which is really disappointing.

“I can only apologise on behalf of everyone to the travelling fans who made the journey down – it wasn’t good enough, and we’ve got to have a reaction on Tuesday.”

AFC sit 15th in the table after 16 games, having failed to achieve back-to-back victories so far this term. They have lost six and only won one of their eight away clashes.

When asked to explain Barrow’s damaging inconsistent streak, Ashton added: “I can’t explain it and I don’t suppose anyone could.

“You could ask 100 people who have watched every game this season and they wouldn’t be able to put it down to anything.

“I’ve been in the game a long time and I just can’t put my finger on why we are so inconsistent and why we can’t get that balance from home form to away form.

“We seem to get ourselves into a great position to look towards really pushing forward and then we play away from home and you’re back to being around the top of the bottom half of the table.

“It is really disappointing so we need to come up with a formula sooner rather than later, otherwise we’re going to be checking over our shoulders every time we play away.”

However, victory against fifth-placed Tranmere would serve as the perfect tonic and Ashton – who battled manfully against the tide on Saturday – is certainly highly motivated.

The 30-year-old said: “We owe it to ourselves, the staff and the fans to produce a reaction on Tuesday night and hopefully we can do that against a team that were up there in the form table.

“They have just lost so there will probably be two sides who will have a point to prove.

“You’ve got to be pumped up for the game otherwise there will be a similar result as what we had on Saturday and we can’t afford that.

“Everyone has ultimately got to start performing on a consistent basis or we don’t know where we might end up this season.

“It really is a tough situation that we’re in, we’re that inconsistent.

“At times we look electrifying and at other times it looks like men against boys, and we’re the boys in games.

“That’s the worrying issue and we need to get some sort of formula together where, if we’re away from home and it’s going to be a difficult game, we need to make sure that there are 11 men on the pitch who are fighting in every tackle, for every ball and making sure that we’re ready.”

Tranmere, who were relegated from the Football League last term, suffered their first loss in 10 games on Saturday with a 2-1 home defeat by Eastleigh. Their other two defeats this season were inflicted by lowly Boreham Wood and Altrincham. Ashton points out that Rovers have built up a decent squad and their manager, Gary Brabin, boasts a good understanding of the division, having previously bossed Luton and Southport.

The Liverpudlian defender will be aiming to get one over on his footballing pals – Tranmere quartet Jay Harris, Andy Mangan, Steve Jennings and Martin Riley, while former AFC attacker Adam Dawson is also part of Rovers’ ranks.

“It might be a little bit disrespectful to us I suppose, but against less-fancied teams in the division, they’ve come unstuck,” added Ashton.

“And hopefully they take that into Tuesday night as well and we can take advantage of it.”