Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt believes on-loan defender Matt Platt gave his side much more control at the back during the midweek defeat against Hartlepool United.

Platt made his second debut for the Bluebirds in the 1-0 loss at Holker Street after signing on loan from Championship club Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old gave a very assured performance alongside Sam Hird at centre-back, which Evatt will be hoping is a sign of things to come, starting with this afternoon’s match at Aldershot Town.

Evatt said: “He was excellent. I thought he was outstanding and he helped us control the game and give them very little.

"It's just the way it's going for us that the one real chance they had, they took and after that we huffed and puffed and we didn't really create anything.

"But I thought we were really solid against Hartlepool and I thought Matty Platt was excellent. He gave us everything that we've been looking for - he was dominant, he showed good pace, he defended well one-v-one, and he got on the ball."

With John Rooney and Jason Taylor struggling with knocks, Barrow's midfield could have a youthful look at Aldershot, with Oliver Greaves, 19, Lewis Hardcastle, 21, and Mark Waddington, 22, the likeliest trio to be fielded if neither make it.

Evatt, however is backing his young tyros to be up to the task, as AFC look to end a run of three straight defeats.

He said: "Football is about opportunities and when you get those opportunities you've got to take them.

"We're not pressing the panic button because I believe that there is a lot right with the team, but we're just lacking those one per cents at the moment.

"That's not always down to what we can control - I feel like we have been on the rough end of a few rough decisions, refereeing-wise, in the last few games.

"But we can't feel sorry for ourselves - we need to knuckle down, work hard and make sure we break out of this cycle sooner rather than later."