UNLIKELY hero Patrick Brough bagged the first brace of his career as Barrow got back to winning ways against Mansfield.

The defender nabbed a quick-fire second-half double to propel the battling Bluebirds out of the relegation zone.

Ryan Sweeney was sent off before Brough ended his side’s two-game losing run with victory at Holker Street.

Rob Kelly’s side leapfrogged relegation rivals Grimsby on goal difference.

And most importantly the Bluebirds have a 20-goal sway over the misfiring Mariners.

Barrow have won two of their last four but have a tough spell ahead with trips to Walsall and Cheltenham.

Caretaker boss Kelly made a quartet of changes after losing against fellow Football League newbies Harrogate in mid week.

Chris Taylor and former Carlisle midfielder Jamie Devitt returned to the starting line-up after coming off the bench last time out.

Tom Davies and Josh Kay came back into the starting line-up after recovering from an injury and illness respectively.

And Devitt tried to make an instant impact but his audacious long-range strike flew wide of the mark.

Scott Quigley squandered the first glaring chance of the game.

The Bluebirds’ striker stabbed Devitt’s delightful delivery over the bar from six yards out.

Down the other end Ollie Clarke, who saw his mid-week red card rescinded, wasted a great chance when he nodded over the bar.

Stopper Joel Dixon did well to get down at Jamie Reid’s feet and the Bluebirds survived as Jordan Bowery failed to fire home the follow up.

The Bluebirds were indebted to Dixon for keeping the game goalless when he tipped Charsley’s ferocious effort over the bar.

But the hosts were gifted the advantage when Sweeney was given his marching orders for bringing down Quigley after the marksman turned his marker with 27 minutes remaining.

And then the visitor’s number one Aidan Stone was forced off injured.

The Bluebirds found space down the left but Jason Taylor fired wide after meeting Patrick Brough’s pin-point pass.

Nigel Clough’s charges threatened as Kellan Gordon’s effort was deflected wide.

And the man advantage eventually told as the hosts broke the deadlock with 16 minutes left.

Brough took advantage of a Mansfield mistake to slide home the opener.

And diving Dixon did brilliantly to maintain the goal advantage when he kept out Bowery’s header.

The Bluebirds put the game to bed as Brough blasted home his second in the 77th minute.

Quigley almost added gloss late on when his low drive was held by Stags’ substitute stopper Marek Stech after bullying his way into the box.

And the forward was once again frustrated in stoppage time with Brough unable to get on the end of the rebound to get a deserved hat-trick.

Final score: Barrow 2, Mansfield 0.