DARREN Edmondson is confident Barrow AFC can give National League high-fliers Eastleigh a run for their money at Holker Street - but only if they learn the lessons from their latest away-day setback.

The Bluebirds will collide with second-from-top Eastleigh on Saturday aiming to maintain their unbeaten 2015/16 home record and bounce back from Monday’s demoralising 3-1 reverse at lowly FC Halifax Town.

Having taken the lead through Andy Cook’s 54th-minute goal at Halifax, they threw away the chance to earn what would have been a deserved victory by falling apart in the latter stages when they conceded three goals – the first of which arrived around the 80-minute mark.

The Barrow boss described the capitulation as ‘not acceptable’, having been in a ‘strong and winning position’, and says his men must show their mettle and maintain their focus for the full 90 minutes.

Edmondson will meet up with Bluebirds owner Paul Casson tomorrow night to discuss the club’s stuttering start to the campaign, which has seen them collect just seven points from seven games, leaving them 18th in the table.

And looking ahead to Saturday’s game, he said: “There are no easy fixtures and Eastleigh are one of the early-season promotion favourites.

“But if we eradicate those individual errors and we move the ball like we did on Monday then we will pick points up, there’s no doubt about that.

“Like we’ve said previously, we’ve just got to learn very quickly about the dynamics of the team and make sure that we don’t go under like that too many times.”

Barrow have won two and drawn one of their opening three home league games this term, but have not earned a single point from their four away clashes.

Asked if he believes AFC have a fundamental problem when playing away from Holker Street, Edmondson responded: “No, I don’t think there’s a real problem there.

“You saw that for 80 minutes (at Halifax) we were far superior in possession, the work-rate was very good and we were hungrier to get the ball back.

“Goals change games, they change momentum, people’s mentality and we needed a second goal and that would have just completely killed the game.”

Edmondson has also highlighted the errors which have resulted in his team conceding cheap goals.

He added: “I don’t think you can legislate for certain individual mistakes that happen in games.

“That’s where as a coach or a manager you are sort of in the hands of your players. You hope and you put trust in them and you have to make sure you cut those individual errors out.

“We’ve made some and we’ve been punished in our away games. The goals we’ve shipped look poor.

“But, as a team, collectively, we should have grouped together at 1-1 at Halifax and at least have been able to stay solid for the next few minutes and not let that happen.

“We’ve got to make sure then that we keep possession again, that we’re nice and brave again and that ultimately we’re solid and they don’t cut through us like they did.”

While Edmondson praised the ‘unbelievable’ support that AFC received from the 250-plus away following that was present at Halifax, he could understand any frustration and anger that travelling supporters may have felt after the match.

Barrow have displayed encouraging form at times this season, and the boss added: “I think they will have seen a very good 80 minutes where we were very dominant and we were cheering and hoping for that second goal that would have killed it off.

“So we all need to be patient. But from a playing point-of-view we’ve got to make sure that we start to eradicate the individual errors that are costing us.

“In general play, we did very well.

“We’ve got to be stronger mentally, I think, that’s a fundamental issue – how we manage matches.

“But that’s the hardest thing. As I say, goals change matches, momentum, flow and tempo and they lift teams.

“A Halifax team that was dead for 80 minutes, you saw how a goal lifted their spirits, etc.

“And we should have seen it out at least 1-1.”