Mark Cooper admits Barrow AFC must try and bring in the type of player that can turn games like Sunday’s in their favour.

The AFC boss was frustrated Barrow’s better spells in the game came to nothing at Tranmere.

They went down to a 2-0 defeat, as they now prepare for tomorrow night’s clash with bottom side Oldham.

Cooper accepted that a familiar failing reappeared at Prenton Park as a Covid-hit Bluebirds side failed to take advantage of some positive play.

“When if goes on for that amount of games and that amount of tie, there’s only one thing that can change,” the manager said.

“You have to try and bring someone in that can do what we need to do.

“The players have given their all. Sometimes you need a bit more than that – you need a real bit of quality, someone who can sometimes make half a yard for himself and bend it into the top corner from 12 yards.

“That’s what our play probably deserved and warranted [on Boxing Day]. I thought we were unlucky to lose.”

The Bluebirds’ game on Sunday was one of just three to survive the virus in the division – while six of Wednesday’s League Two fixtures are already off.

If AFC’s clash with the Latics remains on, it will give Cooper’s side the chance to land a blow against the division’s lowest side and boost their own prospects in the process.

The game against troubled Oldham comes after the disrupted build-up to the Tranmere trip, which Cooper described as “shambolic”.

He lost certain players to positive Covid tests, the manager saying he could not understand why players were tested on Christmas Eve “knowing there was no way that we would get any results back in time if any PCR tests were positive”.

He was without James Jones, Patrick Brough and Matty Platt, along with Ollie Banks who missed the game through suspension.

Cooper added on BBC Cumbria: “We’ve had a settled back unit with James Jones, Patrick Brough and Matty Platt – take them out, and we’ve not had the chance to work with [the back three that came in].

“There are going to be issues – unfortunately one straight ball down the middle and Tranmere got in, and Nicky Maynard does what he does.

“We responded really well, and played some lovely football, just didn’t have that killer instinct.

“I can’t fault the players’ effort and commitment. We frustrated a really good team but if you don’t score, you don’t get anything.

“That’s been a constant theme of the season. We haven’t scored enough goals.”