Mark Cooper says Barrow AFC must strive to repeat the standards of performance they hit in their courageous FA Cup clash at Barnsley.

The Bluebirds return to league action today with a trip to close rivals Colchester United.

Barrow sit a point above today’s hosts, who have lost their last four games.

A repeat of last weekend’s free-scoring cup tie is unlikely – but manager Cooper says the quality and effort Barrow applied to their comeback at Oakwell can be emulated.

“The good thing for me is that the players have set their levels now in terms of physically where they can get to,” he said.

“The physical data last Saturday was incredible, with 10 men for 90 minutes.

“The technical side of it was also good.

“We can get there, so we’ve set our standards and we have to try and match that as many times as we can.”

Cooper could have new loan strikers Will Harris and Jacob Wakeling in his squad, while midfielder Robbie Gotts hopes to return from injury.

There could also be a league debut for new boy Anthony Glennon, who scored on his debut in the dramatic 5-4 cup defeat.

This afternoon’s game in Essex has the look of a six-pointer but Cooper says 20th-placed Barrow must simply focus on the job in hand.

“It’s just the next game, on the day,” he said.

“Colchester, have some really good players and a lot of experience in their team, and a sprinkling of young players from their academy.

“They were unlucky against Forest Green, [a 2-0 midweek defeat]. I watched that game. But if you don’t put the ball in the net it becomes difficult.

“When you’re playing the best teams and are on top, you have to put ball in the net. I’d suggest that’s the case for most teams that are not at the top of the league, like ourselves – if you don’t put the ball in the net at good times you’re going to struggle.

“That’s where we all are. But they’ve got good players, a good set-up and we know it’s going to be a tough game like every week.

“There are no easy games. I never go into a game thinking, ‘We should win today’. It’s on the day. Whoever turns up, and is right at it, has a good chance to win.”

Cooper, meanwhile, says he is “fed up” with the amount of refereeing decisions he says are going against his side.

The latest to aggrieve the Barrow boss was the moment late in added time at Barnsley when a seemingly clear handball in the home box was ignored.