BARROW AFC head coach Stephen Clemence is looking for his side to build on their good start to the campaign.
But he isn’t expecting an easy ride away to Grimsby Town at Blundel Park tomorrow.
Had they managed to hold on for the win against Swindon Town, The Bluebirds would have been sitting top of the League Two table.
They were denied that victory, as Danny Butterworth’s strike deep into to injury time rescued a point for The Robins.
But Clemence was looking to the positives from a game that Barrow played the majority of down to 10 men following goalkeeper Paul Farman’s sending off, and with defender Rory Feely taking over the gloves.
Clemence said: “It was a great effort from the lads last weekend. I was really pleased with them.
“I think if you had offered me a point at half-time I’d have probably taken it, and that’s whether a goalkeeper gets sent off or an outfield player.
“I think when you go down to 10 men in the first half it’s normally very difficult to get a result, but the boys to a man stood up to be counted.
“They defended for their lives, and were fantastic and obviously Rory was brilliant going in goal in what was a real one-off game, one like I’ve probably never been involved in before.
“But there were plenty of positives to take from it. We were only sort of 30 seconds away from being top of the league.”
Instead, the Cumbrians are currently in third place, while tomorrow’s hosts sit 17th, having won two and lost three of their league games so far.
Clemence, though, isn’t reading a lot into that.
He added: “I expect them to be a very difficult opponent, especially on their home patch.
“I think they have won their homes games this season, so it’s going to be a difficult game, and we will have to go there and put in a really good performance if we are going to get a result.
“But if we can perform anything like we have done so far this season then Grimsby will be in for a very tough game.”
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