BARROW boss Rob Kelly has stressed his side need to go out and earn League Two survival.

The battling Bluebirds missed the chance to secure their safety after David Nugent’s second-half winner at Holker Street.

Barrow’s third straight defeat and Southend’s victory means Kelly’s charges are five points clear with three games left - although Southend only have two matches remaining.

Basement boys Grimsby are six points behind the Cumbrian club.

And Kelly is desperate to secure the club a second successive season in the Football League sooner rather than later with three points at Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night at the forefront of his mind.

“The overriding emotion is disappointment,” admitted Kelly.

“It was an opportunity to get the job done and we haven’t done it.

“We’ve got to suffer that, we’re disappointed but we’ll get ready to have another go on Tuesday at Forest Green.

“There’s a real sense of disappointment in the dressing room. We all feel it, for everybody.

“We can see the finishing line, but we can’t rely on anyone else. We’ve got to do it for ourselves.

“You don’t want to be looking over your shoulder and relying on results at other places, I’ve said that all along.

“We’ve got to get the job done. If you’re going to get some help from someone else or a leg up then that’s a bonus.

“But we can’t rely on it, we’ve got to do our own job.”

Despite a third loss in a row, Kelly stressed he can’t criticise his players, who have given the club a great chance of avoiding the drop back to non-league.

“I can’t fault the effort or the commitment,” admitted Kelly. “The game was won by the best bit of football in the game.

“We’re disappointed from a defensive point of view, we could have done one or two things better.

“It was a good piece of play and a good finish from someone who’s been at the every top.

“But that’s done, we’ve got to move on quickly and focus on Tuesday.

“It was a scrappy game, we’ve got different agendas. They’re scrapping for promotion and we’re fighting ourselves.

“There was nothing in the game. I thought they created the better opportunities in the second-half.

“Quigs [Scott Quigley] had a chance but it wasn’t enough really.

“They’re a good side and they’re in the top six for a reason.

“It’s a disappointing place to come.

"We’re disappointed but we can’t let that hang around.

“We have to deal with it because that’s part of it.”