Barrow AFC ramped up their preparations for the start of the new League Two season with a behind-closed-doors clash with Birmingham City.

Mark Cooper's side earned a draw with a last-minute equaliser from Remeao Hutton against his former club, cancelling out a goal for the hosts from Gary Gardner.

Speaking to the club's website, Cooper said: "It was a good afternoon’s work for the players against a very strong Birmingham side.

“I know it’s not about the results in pre-season but to get a draw against a Championship line-up like that is superb.

"Fair play to the players because they were magnificent – they worked their socks off.

“Before I came here there was obviously a good spirit here to finish the season like they did and I have seen evidence of that since I came in.

“There is a strong will to win within this group and that can take you a long way but we also played some decent football at times too, so I am really pleased with them.”

The club's website reported that the team had been defensively resilient in the match, which was the second of four pre-season friendlies.

The Bluebirds are set to get their league campaign under way at Stevenage on August 7 before three back-to-back home games against Scunthorpe United, Hartlepool United and Exeter City, the first of which is in the Carabao Cup.

And the club has confirmed that home supporters from all areas of Holker Street will be allowed to access the fan zone and The Cross Bar on matchdays.

The access will be allowed on a trial basis initially to allow fans to move around the ground before and after matches and at half-time.

Bluebirds trust director Steve Herbert said: “We needed to come up with a solution which satisfies the safety requirements of being an EFL club but also supports our fans in being able to enjoy the facilities our ground has to offer.

“It’s really pleasing that the Safety at Ground (SAG) officials have agreed that, subject to certain strict conditions, home fans will be able to move around the ground at certain times.

“During our discussions there has been a great understanding that Holker Street is a fairly unique ground, which is why we’re one of very few EFL clubs that is moving its perimeter during a matchday.”

The Barrow team against Birmingham was: Farman (Moloney 60), Hutton (Brown 60), Platt, Ellis, Ntlhe (Devitt 46), Brough (Burns 60), Grayson (White 46), Taylor, Beadling (Banks 46), Gordon (Sea 46 (Hutton 65)), Trialist.