Mark Cooper has praised “disruptors” Jason Taylor and Aaron Amadi-Holloway for helping Barrow AFC get back to winning ways.

New signing Amadi-Holloway headed the winner at Northampton Town on a night veteran midfielder Taylor made a combative return to the side.

The 1-0 victory at the Sixfields Stadium took the Bluebirds ten points above the relegation zone ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Tranmere Rovers.

Manager Cooper said the extra leadership and “nous” on the pitch was a key part of the victory.

On the recall of 35-year-old player-coach Taylor, the Bluebirds boss said: “I’m sure when the team sheet out there were people saying, ‘What on earth’s going on?’, which you sometimes get when you bring older players in.

“But we know what Jason brings, and he knows what he’s good at.

“He can disrupt the opposition, he can organise, he can be really combative.

“With Ollie Banks and John Rooney there [in midfield], it gives them a bit more of a licence to be able to play a bit further forward, because they’ve got that security of Jason behind him.”

Cooper also had praise for loan striker Amadi-Holloway, who scored on his second appearance since joining from Burton Albion to the end of the season.

The manager believes his aggressive line-leading qualities can be a crucial addition for Barrow.

“He’s been exceptional just in terms of his physicality, being able to play that central striker,” Cooper said.

“If he doesn’t win every ball then the ball doesn’t drop too far away from him and we can get up and around him.

“He just disrupts the opposition and makes space for other players. Tuesday night will be good for him – he’s not noted for his goalscoring but that gives him a lot of confidence.”

Cooper will have another new signing, defender Niall Canavan, at his disposal for the home clash with high-flying Tranmere.

The manager said his defensive selection at Northampton paid off against another side in the promotion hunt.

He added: “We picked three centre-backs of Connor Brown, Tom Beadling and Patrick Brough, which was more about mobility.

“We looked at Northampton having smaller strikers, and making sure we could deal with that mobility at the top of the pitch.”

Cooper has said the performance on Tuesday must be the standard for his team.

And he said it proved his team can grind out results if they can be resolute defensively.

“We made a few changes, and when you do that and the plan comes together it’s always nice,” he added.

“The nature of League Two is if you can keep it tight you’ll always get chances in a game, and that’s what happened.”