Barrow AFC are a team who have to adapt to windy conditions more than most and they’ll need to battle the breeze once again with Storm Dennis likely to be doing its worst during tomorrow’s game against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Winds of over 50mph are forecast to be howling across Holker Street on the day, which will have a big effect on what type of match it will be - certainly long balls against the wind are out of the question.

With Barrow being Barrow, such conditions are not uncommon for the Bluebirds, who overcame some seriously inclement weather during their last home game against Torquay United two weeks ago.

With driving rain adding to the wind - not too dissimilar to what is expected on Saturday - they came from behind to record a vital 2-1 win and maintaining their home form will be vital after their recent wobble on their travels.

Manager Ian Evatt said: “It wasn’t ideal against Torquay, to be honest. Football gets affected by wind more than any other weather conditions.

“The wind can be awful up here, but it’s the same for both teams and you have to find a way to adapt and overcome and we did that against Torquay.

“If the weather is as bad as what it looks like it is going to be this weekend, with 40-50mph gusts, we’re just going to have to adapt and overcome because we can’t let that affect our mind-set or mentality. We’ve got to go our and try to win the game.”

AFC’s lead at the top of the National League was cut to four points on Tuesday night by Harrogate beating fellow promotion challengers Yeovil 3-0 - a match Evatt attended - while they are looking to bounce back from losing to Dover in the league and being knocked out of the FA Trophy by Barnet.

In their way is a Dagenham side who are battling to avoid relegation and are making a decent fist of doing so, having gone five league games unbeaten under manager Daryl McMahon.

Evatt said: “They’re a different team from when Peter [Taylor] was in charge - they’re trying to play a bit more football, shape and structure-wise they’re different.

“As many teams have now, they’ve kind of looked at what we’re doing and have gone to a similar shape to us. It’s a good game, Dagenham & Redbridge at this level are quite a big football club, so it’s not going to be easy.

“Daryl is going to have them fired up, they’re fighting for their lives as their fifth-from-bottom and just outside the relegation zone, so we need to go out there and perform to our level.

“I’ve said many times that if we can do that - if we play as well as we can - then I’ve not doubt that we can win every game at this level because I believe we have shown over the course of the season, and at times last season as well, that we’re the best team in this league.”

Evatt has been impressed with how his players have responded in training this week and is now hoping they take that form out on the pitch against the Daggers.

He said: “There’s no backlog in fixtures now - we’re only one game behind and, providing Storm Dennis buggers off, we’re able to play this weekend and Dover on Tuesday, so there are no excuses anymore.

“The lads are fit and fresh, they’ve trained exceptionally well this week and there’s a real buzz about them.”