Mark Cooper has praised his Barrow AFC players for digging deep to keep their season on an even keel in tough times.

The Bluebirds’ absentee list is well documented but they took a well-earned point from Bradford last weekend.

It came on a day AFC’s manager had to deploy midfielder Ollie Banks in defence in his latest enforced rejig.

Barrow responded with a good display and Cooper says the attitude of his players in adversity is commendable.

“I’ve said all along that they’re a really good group and want to give everything they’ve got,” Cooper told The Mail.

“That’s been evident. We might not be the most fluent at the moment but we’ve got desire and commitment in abundance.

“That’s important. It is that siege mentality we have. It’s a fact we don’t have a lot off the pitch but the players want to give everything, and I think supporters will get behind that.”

Cooper’s squad are preparing for Friday night’s home clash with Newport as they seek to build on Saturday’s point at Valley Parade.

The game in Yorkshire saw Barrow restrict the home side’s dangerous attacking players including former Bluebirds striker Andy Cook.

That came despite missing a number of defenders including the suspended Mark Ellis, injured Matty Platt and with Joe Grayson only fit enough to take a place on the bench.

Cooper fielded in-form Banks in a makeshift rearguard alongside Hull loanee Festus Arthur.

He said: “I’ve got a way that I want to play – I want to try and control the game with the ball.

“Ollie’s a brilliant footballer and it just seemed natural to play him at the back.

“We’ve not had any centre-halves training, Festus hasn’t trained all week but put his hand up to play after an injection, and Joe Grayson’s been ill.

“They’ve all been magnificent.”

Cooper wants his side to build on the quality of football they played in spells against Derek Adams’ Bradford, who were among the pre-season promotion favourites.

And he said exerting control in possession is the way his side will continue picking up positive results.

“If you keep booting the ball down the pitch when your strength is in the middle and the top of the pitch...it makes sense to try and control the game,” he said.

“When we kick the ball and play long, we get beat up - we’re not set up for that.

“We’ve got technical players who can play. The more work we can do the better we can get.”