NEILL Hornby has promised a high-tempo, front-foot display for his first game in charge of Barrow AFC.

The caretaker manager leads the Bluebirds to Ebbsfleet United tomorrow seeking to end a run of eight games without a win (3pm kick-off).

After only a week at Holker Street – he arrived last Friday, only to see manager Micky Moore sacked on Tuesday – he has had little time to get the lay of the land before taking the reins at Stonebridge Park.

But what he saw in the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Shaw Lane last weekend told him the tempo needs to be upped, and he has been happy with the response of the players to that in training.

“The lads have bought into what I want to do with them,” said Hornby, whose previously first-team managerial experience is as a caretaker over several spells at Burton Albion. “There is a good energy about the place, a good feel.

“Yes, we're all affected by what happened to Micky, of course we are, because he is a top, top guy, and the players really liked him, but you've got to move on. We're professional, we move on.

“They've bought into the way I want to do things. One of the things that disappointed me in the cup game is that I don't think we played at a high enough tempo.

“When we can, I want to play at a higher tempo. Training this week has been about being aggressive with the ball, closing players down at a good tempo. Hopefully the fans will see what they want to see – they're going to be entertained.

“I said to the boys after training today, if you come off – no matter what the result – on Saturday after 120 per cent, then I will be happy with you. That's all you can ask, and they've bought into what I want to do this week. Fingers crossed we will hopefully get some points.”

He added: “I want to keep my thoughts about the team and selection to myself at the moment. I've spoken to some of the staff about a few ideas of what I want to do.

“One thing I will be doing, is it will be a very front-foot performance – I can guarantee that. We will have a go.”

Hornby has geared training this week specifically to combat Ebbsfleet, a team who have lost only twice this season, and who are hard to break down.

He added: “I've mentioned it right from the first session we did – the whole of training has been geared towards the Ebbsfleet game.

“They are a very organised, very well-drilled team. They do no concede many goals at all and they have got some very good players.

“The thing that sticks out about them for me is how organised and how drilled they are. They're a very, very good National League team.

“It will be difficult, but I think we've got enough in our dressing room to go there and get something.”

He added: “One thing that is assured for however many games I have got, for however long I'm the interim manager – the players will be prepared, they will be fully-focused, and everything will be put in place.

“We will know everything about Ebbsfleet, we will know everything about Chester. That's where I'm looking at the moment; I'm looking at Ebbsfleet and I'm looking at Chester.

“I've been sat all afternoon looking at videos of Ebbsfleet, reading reports on them. I can't do any more.

“The players will be prepared and they will go out there and give their all for the club and the supporters. We need to put a smile back on the supporters' faces after last weekend.”