BARROW AFC boss Paul Cox is standing firmly behind embattled goalkeeper Joel Dixon after an error on Tuesday night led to Macclesfield's equaliser.

The Bluebirds were to held to a 1-1 draw by the Silkmen after Neil Byrne scored in the 82nd minute to cancel out Danny Livesey's header just three minutes earlier.

Byrne's goal came after Dixon left his line to claim a cross, but could only flap at the ball and direct it into the path of Macc's Kingsley James, who provided the ball for Byrne to score.

It is the third time in four home games that Barrow have conceded a late equaliser, with Dixon also held to account for errors before Tuesday's mistake.

The misjudgements have led some Barrow fans and commentators to question Dixon's place in the team – though before Tuesday he had kept back-to-back clean sheets and had put in some impressive displays away from Holker Street.

Cox is remaining firmly in the 23-year-old stopper's corner, with no inclination to promote back-up keeper Andy Coughlin to the number one spot, not – as yet – to bring in new blood.

That does remain an option down the line should errors continue, but for now Cox is ready to support his keeper in any way he can.

“Joel has come through a period in this season where his handling has been immaculate away from home,” he said. “He is in a position where he needs to become mentally stronger, and it’s that part of the game we’re working on.

“I think support mechanisms are called for now, but there are different kinds of psychology. If I need to, then I will have to go and get another goalkeeper.

“I believe in supporting my players, helping them through it, and we are looking at different aspects of how we can help improve Joel mentally, technically and physically. That will come long before I think about bringing somebody in or making a change in that position.

“His handling has been excellent for the past five or six weeks, but he has to understand that he is in a position where, when you do make a mistake, it is shown time and time again.

“I’m not going to get too pernickety. If decisions need to be made – not just with goalkeepers, but with defenders, midfielders and forwards – big decisions, then I will make them. We have to remember we’re on an amazing run of games at the minute. We’re young, we’re new, we’re an embryo as a football club.”

Cox acknowledged that the keeper himself was becoming annoyed with some of the errors he has made, but stressed this was all part of the role of a keeper and that he does not want a witch-hunt.

He added: “I think he gets frustrated a little bit a few times, but it’s a position where, if you do make a mistake, everyone talks about it afterwards. It’s something, as a young goalkeeper, he has to learn to deal with, but there have been plenty of times this season where he has been fantastic.

“What he needs is support mechanisms. He needs everyone behind him, and he needs to stay focused and concentrated to become, what I think he can be, a very good goalkeeper.

“As a manager, my job is to manage people, to manage this football team. We’re always looking to improve, we’re always looking to get better. I want to take this club to different places.

“If I need to, I will go and get another goalkeeper. We’ve got a good, young goalkeeper at the minute, who I think is on a steep learning curve – as we all are at this football club.

“My initial thoughts are to support, to give him those support mechanisms behind him, so that he understands that we have to try and eradicate the mistakes.

“He’s a big boy. He understands what the game is about, and if he needs to have a little bit of competition, I won’t be scared to bring somebody else in.

“He’s a great kid, potentially an excellent goalkeeper, and I don’t want any kind of witch-hunt. I don’t want any negativity.”