BARROW AFC manager Pete Wild has praised his Bluebirds for 'winning ugly' against Forest Green Rovers.

Two goals in 20 minutes from Sam Foley and Dom Telford gave the Bluebirds a cushion at the New Lawn Stadium against David Horseman's Green Devils.

However, following this early flurry, the Bluebirds were forced to defend resolutely against their hosts who desperately searched for a way back into the game, with Wild praising his side ground out the result.

"We have had to win a different way tonight," He said speaking to the club's media.

"First and foremost I thought Forest Green have caused us more problems tonight than most teams have all season, I thought they moved the ball really well and it won't be long before their fortunes change, I was really impressed with them tonight.

"We won a different way, we won ugly, we got off to a really good start, we wanted to do that, we talked about doing that in the dressing room that we wanted to get on the front foot and to get two goals early on is brilliant.

Wild also piled the praise on Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman who made six saves to preserve his clean sheet, while explaining how the Bluebirds showed a different side of their game against Forest Green.

"It was a case of defending our own box and they have done that magnificently well.

"Paul Farman has been outstanding tonight and we have put bodies on the line, we blocked on the line and we have had to win a different way.

"We have controlled most football matches over the last few weeks and tonight we didn't and we had to defend well.

"People have questioned whether we can win a different way and win ugly but we proved tonight that we can."