PAUL Casson has flagged up the importance of AFC’s tough home clash against unbeaten National League high-fliers Eastleigh by saying: “Let’s kick-start our season.”

The Bluebirds owner will fly into England and hold talks with boss Darren Edmondson tonight to chew the fat over the club’s start to the campaign, with the Bluebirds sitting seventh-from-bottom in the table with just seven points earned after seven games.

While Edmondson retains Casson’s support the Texas-based businessman says he does not underestimate the threat that second-from-top Eastleigh will pose tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

But he does expect Barrow to ‘show their mettle’ and relish the challenge as they seek to get back on track following Monday’s disappointing 3-1 reverse at Halifax.

Although AFC have yet to pick up an away point this season, they will also be aiming to extend their unbeaten 2015/16 home run to four games having defeated Dover (2-1) and Southport (1-0) and earned a 1-1 draw against Guiseley in Furness so far.

Casson said: “I guess it’s an indication of how important I think this game is that I have chosen to get on a plane on a Thursday night to come and watch it.

“It’s an important moment in the season – we’re unbeaten at home and so we have that to hang our hat on.

“And so it’s a time to build on that particular positive. We know that we’ve had some setbacks away from home for various reasons.

“I considered Dover to be quality opposition and we beat them. Eastleigh, for sure, are quality opposition, and then some, and we need to show our mettle.

“That’s important, and I want to see that and I want the fans to see that.

“I want to see that this team will go out and give it all for the people of Barrow.

“That’s what I want.”

Eastleigh have achieved five wins and two draws from their opening seven games, and Casson added: “It’s a perfect challenge, Eastleigh are an excellent team.

“They are very ambitious and so we have to treat them with the utmost respect. It’s a challenge that we should be relishing given the squad that we have.

“It’s an excellent opportunity.”

After tomorrow’s game the Bluebirds’ September league schedule will also see them face a trip to Braintree Town, complete back-to-back home games against Lincoln City and Aldershot, visit Macclesfield Town and then welcome Kidderminster Harriers to Holker Street.

Casson added: “It’s game number eight – it’s the start of a very important span for us.

“September is a critical month for us for setting the stage for the rest of the season.

“And this is game one, and it’s at home and it’s against quality opposition.

“I would say that the season needs to start here.”

While Barrow largely bossed the Halifax game before their late collapse they also failed to pull out victories against Guiseley and Cheltenham after taking the lead.

Casson said: “I think this is probably the most important weekend in Barrow’s recent history.

“We’re at home, we’re playing a team that we believe we should be competing with and I need to see the desire to see the game out in a positive manner.

“If you look at the last four games and our performances in the main – against Halifax, Southport, Cheltenham and Guiseley – it’s not clear to me why we should not have got 12 points from those four games – we got four.

“The results are clear. We were a goal up against Guiseley, we were a goal up against Cheltenham, we were a goal up against Southport and saw that one out, and we were a goal up against Halifax.

“If we go a goal up, I expect us to go on and win.”