Caretaker boss Rob Kelly was desperately disappointed after a last-gap winner cost Barrow.

Shaun Miller bagged the only goal of the game deep in stoppage time to condemn Kelly to his first defeat since taking the helm for a second time this season.

And defeat leaves battling Barrow in the relegation zone.

But they have two vital games in hand over struggling Southend and have a superior goal difference.

“I just feel for the players and the supporters who have watched it because I thought we deserved something from the game,” Kelly said.

"Sometimes you just don’t get what you deserve but if you stay working hard then I’m a big believer that it will even itself out.

“It’s just the way football is sometimes.

“Before Tuesday we’d have said we have two tough away games and if we pick up two draws that’s two points.

“We’d have been happy with that but we’ve got three points in that spell.

“I’m really disappointed for everybody in that dressing room.

“We’ve worked hard and we should work hard, but I thought we more than matched them for large spells.”

It was a game of few chances, but Kelly believes his side can achieve their goal of retaining their Football League status.

“I wouldn’t say we’d easily get away from relegation if we show that character because there’s a few teams down there fighting for their lives and we’re one of them,” he added.

“I believe if we do that and add the good football that we’ve got then we’ve got a really good chance of getting out of the trouble we’re in.

“There was a game of few chances, I think we had the best chance of the first half.

“I know they scored at the end, but I can’t really remember any other real chances.

“It was a real dogged performance. We know we can play better and we can play better football.

“They’re a good side. They’re the form team of the division and on a really good run.

“They’ve got a good squad and they’ve found their form.

“It was about us and I couldn’t really ask more in a character and working way.

“We don’t have to wait very long, we dust ourselves off and we go again on Tuesday.

“That’s all we can do and that’s all we can effect.”