Barrow AFC's fantastic run in the National League has coincided with centre-back Matt Platt's time with the club, and he believes they are now capable of finding ways to win games when not at their best.

Last Saturday's 1-0 win against Sutton United was Platt's 11th league appearance since signing on loan from Championship club Blackburn Rovers in September and it was the Bluebirds' ninth victory in that period.

Beforehand, Ian Evatt's team had made a habit of chucking away winning positions, but eradicating that 'soft centre' (as AFC's manager described it) has played a huge role in them rocketing up to within two points of league leaders Bromley.

Platt said: "We want to do big things in this league and along the way you're going to have to grind out results out and find a way to win, even if you're not at your best.

"At the end, we were basically down to nine men, with the walking wounded, but to grind the result out was a great feeling.

"I think Josh Granite continuing up front despite being injured just sums up the spirit of the group. When you've got players willing to do things like that and put their body on the line for the team to get the result, that's the type of characters you need."

Despite coming under heavy pressure late on, the Bluebirds held on for their second clean sheet of the week, with goalkeeper Joel Dixon providing an effective final barrier behind a back three that has changed a lot due to injuries in recent games,

Platt, who himself took a knock at Dagenham & Redbridge, said: "As a defender, you want a 'keeper who is going to come off his line and 99 per cent of when he comes, he gets the ball, so that confidence is massive for us back lads.

"It's great to have him behind us and he's pulled off some great saves as well."