AFC boss Mark Cooper called for Barrow’s Carabao Cup cash windfall to be invested as soon as possible.

The Bluebirds could bank around £200,000 from this second round tie against the Premier League outfit.

A crowd of more than 5,000 was the biggest at Holker Street for more than 30 years.

There was no happy ending to this one-sided contest with a youthful Villa outfit on top virtually from first whistle to last.

Cameron Archer netted a hat-trick for Dean Smith’s side Dutch international Anwar El Ghazi struck twice with another goal from Frederic Guilbert.

“The only positive is the money,” said a clearly disgruntled Cooper after his team’s 6-0 defeat.

“We need that put into the infrastructure so the players can prepare properly, train properly and make sure we give them more of an opportunity to compete.

“We are not doing that at the minute. It is frustrating because we are nomadic.

“We have a shiny gym we can go to but we haven’t got a grass pitch.

“I am a coach and I want to work the players properly. But they are not fit enough to work at the intensity we need. So, it is difficult.”

Barrow’s defeat was their first at Holker Street this season and Cooper hopes for a return to winning ways when Bristol Rovers visit on Saturday.

The west country outfit has made a sluggish start to their Skybet League Two campaign but Cooper said: “Joey Barton will be rubbing his hands together watching that on television.

“We have played 94 minutes against a decent Premier League team and we got our pants pulled down.

“We are out on our feet so we have got to try and recover. Saturday is a big game for us because we need to bounce back.

“We need to show real resilience. We only have 14 fit players but we have got to come out fighting,” demanded Cooper.

“Our fans have been brilliant since day one hopefully they can stick with the players.

“Hopefully, they can see the players are giving everything.”

Cooper was disappointed with his team’s capitulation but admitted: “The gulf between the Premier League and League Two is massive.

“We started well but the first goal killed it. It took the energy out of us and gave them all the encouragement they needed. They were sharper, bigger, stronger.

Cooper had no complaints with Villa’s penalty for a foul by Josh Gordon that led to Anwar El Ghazi doubling the visitors’ lead.

But he felt Barrow should have had their own spot kick for a foul on Ozzy Zanzala.

“That would have made it interesting but you don’t get them against the big teams. So, that made it even more difficult.”