Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt believes his team are now starting to believe that they are among the best in the National League, with them closing in on the division's summit.

The Bluebirds' early elimination from the FA Cup, giving them a blank weekend this week, is one of the few setbacks they have suffered in the last couple of months, as they have soared up the table to put a difficult start to the season firmly behind them.

Evatt had a place in the play-offs as a minimum target for the campaign and they'll head to Notts County next week sitting in fourth place, only two points behind leaders Bromley.

Since taking charge last year, Evatt has aimed to change the mind-set at the club, insisting that a tenth-place finish last season was an underachievement and that promotion to the Football League shouldn't feel like a distant dream.

"I'm biased, obviously, because I'm Barrow's manager, but I think I have the best team in the league," Evatt said.

"I may be proven wrong, but that's what I firmly believe, I think the players believe that and I believe that the people of Barrow and the supporters are starting to believe that and that's what I wanted all along, to change people's mind-sets.

"I don't care about budgets, I don't care about the size of the club, none of that matters.

"What matters is what we do on the field of play and how we support it and back it up with the board, the club and the owners, and the supporters.

"I've said many times what we've got in mind is a 'perfect storm'. I can see it brewing and there's a long way to go, but we're well on the way to doing something and achieving something, which is pleasing."