Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt has told his players that they will need to battle through what is a stop-start period in their fixture list.

Last Saturday’s 0-0 draw against FC Halifax Town was the Bluebirds’ first match in two weeks after sitting out the previous weekend due to their early elimination from the FA Trophy by the same opponents last month.

Due to Leyton Orient still being in the competition, this weekend’s match against Evatt’s old club Chesterfield will precede a similar break from action, with the next home game against Bromley not taking place until February 9.

With the fixture against the O’s at Holker Street now taking place on Tuesday, March 5, Barrow will now play more fixtures in the space of ten days at the start of that month (four) than they will in the whole of February.

On the ‘staccato’ schedule, Evatt said: “It’s not ideal – obviously the Leyton Orient game being cancelled is not ideal as well because we’re going to have another break.

“At times, we’re not going to play very well and in the first half on Saturday, we certainly didn’t.

“In the second half, we got a bit better, but as I said, I just felt that on the day there was a bit of negativity in the air in the crowd for the first time and these players need backing because they’re doing their best.

“Hopefully, we can respond to that and start creating a more positive atmosphere.”