BARROW AFC are good. Really good. Ian Evatt just wants to make sure his players know it.

The Bluebirds head to Kent tomorrow to take on Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium (3pm kick-off).

And they do it on the back of a superb 3-2 home win over high-flying Chesterfield on Tuesday and an impressive from a 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient last weekend.

Two goals from Tyler Smith and one from Jack Hindle – his fourth of the campaign – saw Barrow become the first team to both score against and beat Chesterfield.

They also came away from Brisbane Road a week ago disappointed to only take a point, having had the chances to claim all three.

Such signs are positive for a team who at this point last season were already starting to look like relegation contenders. Now, they look like they more than belong in non-league’s top-flight.

And Evatt will not stop telling everyone – the players included – just how much ability the squad he has put together since arriving at Holker Street in June has, and how much they are capable of achieving.

“We’re good,” he said. “I keep telling everyone, and I keep telling the lads more than anything, because they’ve got to believe it themselves. We’re good.

“I’ve had a 20-year football career, right the way through the English pyramid from top to bottom, and I’ve seen a lot of players. I’m telling you now, these boys can play.

“They just need to believe in themselves, keep working hard in training – which they are doing – and they will get better and better as the season goes on.

“That’s the pleasing thing, that all the effort, work that we are showing in training is paying off, and it breeds confidence when you get the right results.”

Evatt puts the early-season form – and displays which have caught the eye for their attacking intent as much as the results they have gained – in large part down to the atmosphere around the squad.

Since the start of pre-season, the former Chesterfield and Blackpool central defender has spoken of the importance of the players holding each other accountable, and he feels that is paying off.

“This is the environment we’re creating,” he added. “We’re creating an environment where you hold people accountable for everything – and if you don’t come in and give us 110 per cent, and play with your heart on your sleeve and for that badge, then it won’t be acceptable.

“Everyone who has come in has come into the same regime and it’s all paying off. The dressing room is fantastic, the lads hold each other accountable – which is great to see – and the standards are increasing and improving day-in, day-out.”

One man benefiting from Evatt’s environment is Tyler Smith.

His two goals against Chesterfield took his season’s tally to three from four games, and the 19-year-old Sheffield United loanee is fitting in nicely.

Evatt is pleased to see the impact he is making, with the chance to him to score his first goals away from Holker Street at Maidstone tomorrow.

“I’m delighted with Ty,” said the Barrow manager. “As I’ve said, I was chasing him the whole summer and I know exactly what he can do.

“He’s a proper out-and-out clinical goal-scorer, and he didn’t look like missing either chance. If he’s through on goal, he scores – it’s as simple as that.

“I spoke to him in training the other day, he came to me saying ‘gaffer, I’m doing all I can, but I’m just not getting the chances’. I said to him to stay patient and the goals will come, and he’s got two.

“I’m really pleased for him, because he put a great shift in on Saturday and again (on Tuesday), he’s just not stopped.”