Defender Matt Platt is hoping to maintain the solid form he has shown since signing for Barrow AFC on loan from Blackburn Rovers a couple of weeks ago.

Platt has helped shore up a Bluebirds defence that had leaked too many goals in the first month of the season, which led to them letting winning positions slip away in five of their first eight games.

The 21-year-old has adapted well to the style of play demanded by AFC boss Ian Evatt, as he was asked to play in a similar fashion at Blackburn, where manager Tony Mowbray has a similar possession-based philosophy.

He's also shown he has an eye for danger, not least when his last-ditch challenge prevented Connor Shields from getting to the rebound after Joel Dixon had saved his penalty in the dying seconds of last Saturday's 2-1 victory at Aldershot Town.

Platt said: "I think I've done pretty well in both my games - it was disappointing to concede in both, but I think we've been generally solid when I've played in the games, so I'm looking to keep that going and looking for that clean sheet.

"There was some relief at Aldershot because once you get 2-0 up and they get it back to 2-1 and then miss a penalty in the last minute, you're always happy to have got the win.

"I think we need to learn some things about killing games off, as at 2-0 the game should be dead and you shouldn't be letting them back in.

"But after the run we'd been on, with three defeats on the bounce, the win was the most important thing, in any way possible."

Platt is in his second loan spell at Holker Street, having previously played under Paul Cox towards the end of the 2016/17, and he believes he has returned a more mature player.

He said: "I think I've improved a lot as a player and I think I've improved as a person.

"I've learned a lot and obviously first team football was what I needed, coming from Blackburn, so I think it will do me the world of good and I'm really looking forward to it."

The centre-back is the second player to be brought over to Barrow by Evatt since he took charge in June last year, with midfielder Lewis Hardcastle making his move permanent in March after a very impressive initial loan spell.

Platt revealed his ex-Rovers colleague played a part in him making mind up to re-sign, saying: "I spoke to Lew before I came here, obviously.

"It's always good having someone you know to tell you how it is and I also knew a few lads from when I was here previously in Byron [Harrison] and Joel - it's nice to have a few friendly faces when you first come."