LIFE has been tough for Paul Cox as Guiseley as he prepares to welcome former club Barrow AFC tomorrow.

Cox and his Lions side find themselves sitting second-bottom in the National League ahead of the visit of the Bluebirds – nine points adrift of AFC and safety (3pm kick-off).

The Nethermoor outfit have not won in five National League matches – since their 2-0 triumph at Chester on Boxing Day – and their last home success came on October 21 against fellow relegation battlers Solihull Moors.

That is a run stretching back even further than Barrow's winless streak at Holker Street, though they have played only six home games in that time.

With both sides seeking a first victory of 2018 tomorrow, Cox – who departed Holker Street in August before joining Guiseley the following month – is refusing the panic, drawing positives from the late 2-1 loss to AFC Fylde last weekend.

“It’s fine lines at the minute,” Cox told the Guiseley official website. “I feel for the players, because I thought the work ethic was there.

“There were a lot of positives from that performance, we have had chances to score goals but we haven’t punished Fylde when we should.

“The games are ticking down, but no-one is panicking. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game but we can’t keep standing here and saying that. We weren’t as cutting as we should have been in the final third.

“As long as we keep putting those performances in, cut out the minor mistakes we make in both boxes, I have not lost any belief that we will achieve our goal this season.”

He added: “I have sat down with the board and they understand my desire. I am probably the most frustrated man in Guiseley at the minute.

“I have a desire to achieve with this club, there were a lot of things that I felt needed change and that has probably hindered our progress more than we thought.

“It’s very very easy to lose faith in yourself and the people around you. I look at the people I’m working for, the support which we have been shown which is so humbling, I look at the staff and my players that care.

“I’m 100 per cent focused on achieving our goals this season and in the years to come.”

Cox, who has been joined at Guiseley by former Bluebirds Alex-Ray Harvey and Liam Hughes since his move, is looking forward to taking on Barrow tomorrow, and said: “When people talk about previous clubs, I always look back with fondness.

“I enjoyed my time at Barrow and had great success.”