NEW Barrow AFC assistant manager Jamie Day the Bluebirds should draw confidence from Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Sutton United.

AFC more than matched their high-flying National League opponents, leading through Bedsente Gomis's early goal, hitting the bar through Dan Jones, and going close to a second on several occasions.

They were denied victory when Tommy Wright scored an equaliser against the run of play in the second half, but Day – who was on the touchline for the first time since joining Barrow at the start of the week as Ady Pennock's number two – was nothing but positive about the display.

Now Day, who worked with Pennock before at Welling United, Forest Green Rovers and Gillingham, believes the team should take a lot of positives the display against a side in the think of the promotion hunt as they continue they battle against relegation.

That fight continues with a trip to a side just four places and seven points above them on Saturday, when they go to Maidstone.

“They should be confident after the performance – disappointed but confident going into the weekend,” said Day. “We have to keep that confidence up and we need to get on a little run of games. If we're confident, then I'm positive we can win some games.”

Day recognises that Barrow have often been at their best against side from the upper echelons of the division in recent months, and need to match their displays against the likes of Sutton, Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers – all of whom have been held to 1-1 draw in South Cumbria, all in games AFC could have won – when they face teams who are lower down the rankings, such as Maidstone.

“I've been speaking to the gaffer and he has said that against the top teams, the boys have put in decent performances,” said Day. “That was shown again against Sutton.

“When we go again against the teams who are going to be near us at the bottom of the table, we've got to match the performances we have produced against the bigger teams and hopefully get some wins.

“We're disappointed we couldn't get three points, but overall we're pleased with the level we reached on Tuesday night.”

He added: “I think they're a good set of boys, maybe a little bit low on confidence – and that's obviously a job for the staff and Holty (player/coach Grant Holt), who knows the boys really well, to get them up.

“We just need to go on a run of games now and get some wins. I've been watching the results since the gaffer took over, and we have probably drawn too many games. We need to start turning them into wins.

“From what I have seen from the boys, they're a good bunch and they work hard. I'm positive we can get up the table.”