Frontman Dior Angus says Barrow AFC have proved they have nothing to fear in the EFL this season.

The Bluebirds are back in cup action tonight after their valiant efforts at Derby on Saturday.

This time it is the EFL Trophy, with David Dunn’s men heading to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool in their first northern group G fixture (kick-off 7pm).

The game against League One opposition follows their impressive showing against Championship hosts at the weekend, when it took a penalty shoot-out for Derby to evade Barrow in the Carabao Cup.

Angus says the way Dunn’s side played at Pride Park should underline Barrow’s confidence that they will be able to mix it against sides from their own division in 2020/21 when League Two action gets under way next weekend.

The 26-year-old said: “It’s a good confidence booster to know we can do it.

“We are not going to come up against teams of [Derby’s] quality every week in League Two, with no disrespect, so why can’t we have a good go this year?

“We’ve shown we have got nothing to fear and a lot to gain, especially with our shape, and we’ll get more chances against teams that haven’t got as much quality as Derby.”

Barrow’s first exploits as a League club for the first time in 28 years continue against Dunn’s former club tonight.

It is a quick return to Bloomfield Road with Barrow having played Blackpool in a pre-season friendly last month, going down 2-1.

Barrow will also face Accrington Stanley and Leeds United’s under-21s in northern group G.

Tonight’s game is the club’s first outing in the competition which has attracted controversy among lower-league fans for its involvement of Category One academy teams.

There is extra Premier League prize money and participation fees on offer for the likes of Barrow.

If tonight’s game is drawn, a penalty shoot-out will hand an extra point to the winner.

If that is the case Dunn’s side will hope for a better outcome than on Saturday, when they went down 3-2 on spot-kicks.

The outcome left Angus frustrated that such a valiant display had not seen Barrow to a famous victory.

“It was a bit of a disappointment after taking it that far against a good team, but it wasn’t to be,” said the striker, who scored one of the Bluebirds’ spot-kicks after missing a good first-half chance.

Of the latter, he said: “I’ve gone to shoot and the lad’s clipped me but he probably did it well enough that he’s blindsided the ref.”