MICKY Moore wants Barrow AFC to be fast out of the blocks as they welcome Maidstone United to Holker Street.

The Bluebirds are unbeaten at home so far this season – as are their visitors, the only other side who can boast such a record in the National League – but have only two wins from six games.

Both those victories came when they struck the first blow in the first half – scoring after 20 minutes in the 3-0 in over Working and just two minutes as they defeated Boreham Wood 2-1.

Otherwise, they have been held to a stalemate or been forced to come from behind after conceding an early goal – the 1-1 draw against Torquay in their last game at Holker Street earned only thanks to a Byron Harrison strike in injury time.

With that in mind, Moore – in his first home game since being appointed as AFC boss on a permanent basis – knows the importance of starting well.

“If you look at the four draws we've had, we've drawn 0-0 with Halifax, 1-1 with Maidenhead, 0-0 with Guiseley and 1-1 with Torquay,” he said.

“If you look at the game against Maidenhead, we went 1-0 down and showed great character to come back, we went 1-0 down against Torquay and showed great character to come back. The other two games were 0-0.

“It's important that we start brightly, it's important that we play with a high tempo and a high energy. We've got to be brave at home, we've got to play on the front-foot, more than anything else.

“Against Boreham Wood, we started off really bright, but then the last home game we shot ourselves in the foot, we made a mistake in the first six minutes and Torquay went 1-0 up. We made life difficult for ourselves after that.”

He added: “We've got to start games brightly to give ourselves a foothold in the game and give ourselves the best opportunity in the game. If you're 1-0 down after six minutes, it becomes very difficult, because the away team can sit in, like Torquay did.

“We showed great character, and in the second half against Torquay the majority of the game was played in their half. Yes, we didn't create a lot of chances, but we're difficult to beat at home and we've got to continue that on Saturday.”

Moore is away that the Stones will be no easy prey on their travels, having beaten Macclesfield and Eastleigh in their last two away games to climb to ninth in the table.

Zavon Hines has five games for the Kent side already this term – more than any Barrow player – while Joe Pigott has four among a team who are the joint-sixth highest scorers in the division.

“Jay Saunders has done a great job there,” said Moore. “They came up and last year was their first season, they've built on that and they find themselves in a healthy position at the moment.

“It's going to be a difficult game. They've got some good players, but we've got to start turning some of the draws into wins. Unbeaten at home is nice, but we need to start putting wins on the board.”

Barrow will be without up to six players tomorrow, with Bedsente Gomis suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at Sutton last weekend.

He joins Dave Nieskens (knee), Thierry Audel (broken arm), Moussa Diarra and Adi Yussuf (both hamstring) on the sidelines, with Jack Barthram (hamstring) rated as 50/50 to be fit, but more likely to return for Tuesday's trip to Hartlepool United.

Moore today bolstered his ranks with the signing of midfielder Chris Clements on a three-month loan deal from Grimsby Town. He becomes the fourth player brought in over the past fortnight following deals for Jordon Thompson, Paul Bignot and Tony Diagne.

Moore is waiting on news from specialists on the length of absences of both Nieskens and Audel, adding: “Thierry is seeing a specialist and we'll know where we are with him. He's not in a cast at the moment, but the conversation is whether it will be an operation or put in a cast.

“If it's an operation, I think it brings it forward by two weeks, potentially. But you're still looking at possibly of December as we stand at the moment.

“Moussa, we're looking at the middle of November, Adi Yussuf probably for the FA Cup game (on October 15), we would imagine he would be fit for that.”