Mark Cooper admits Barrow AFC will be underdogs at Bristol Rovers tonight – but tsays hat’s when his side are at their most dangerous.

The Bluebirds’ survival bid continues against Joey Barton’s play-off chasing Pirates this evening.

AFC boss Cooper, whose side start the night two points above the drop zone, says a home side with just one defeat in 12 in the league will be favourites to overcome his visiting team.

But the Barrow boss said that does not mean his players should be underestimated at he Memorial Stadium.

“They [Bristol Rovers] are a massive club for the level, have massive support, and good players,” he said.

“It’s a game we can attack. Nobody expects us to get anything at Bristol. [But] I think that’s when we’re at our most dangerous.

“We can go and have a right go at it.”

Barton’s side are tenth, four points outside the play-off places after a strong run of recent form.

Barrow will be seeking a first win in five after their latest draw at home to Harrogate Town on Saturday.

Cooper felt that, despite the frustrating of failing to score on Saturday, the industry his side showed will be an important trait over the coming weeks.

“When you’re down there, the most important thing is to keep picking points up,” he added to the BBC.

“We always look as though we’re going to get a result; we never, touch wood, look like we’re going to go weeks on end without getting something.

“We’ve got to keep the scoreboard ticking, and our goal difference is worth a point compared to the rest [of the teams near us].”

Frontman Josh Gordon, meanwhile, has admitted he is delighted to be back from injury to play a part in the run-in.

He made his first appearance for nearly two months against Harrogate.

The hard-working striker said on the club’s iFollow: “It’s been tough watching but I wanted to make sure we got [the recovery] right – I don’t want to be in and out.

“It was just nice to be back out there again. It was a tough game to come back into but just to be out there trying to help the team turn this corner is what I wanted to do.”

Some of Barrow’s fellow strugglers are in action tonight, with second-bottom Oldham at Crawley, third-bottom Carlisle at home to Rochdale and Colchester hosting Leyton Orient.