Midfielder Kemy Agustien wants Barrow AFC to maintain their recent revival, as they move closer to what is a tricky run of festive fixtures.

The Bluebirds return to their Holker Street home for their next two matches, with their National League clash with Maidstone United on Saturday being followed by an FA Trophy first round tie against FC Halifax Town next week.

They head into those matches in good heart after seven points picked up from their last three games lifted them five places up the table and into 12th.

But while both are seen as winnable, the four matches around Christmas and New Year are all against teams who currently sit in the top six.

Their busy programme begins with a trip to Solihull Moors on December 22, with home and away clashes against AFC Fylde on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day sitting either side of the televised match at home to Salford City.

Agustien said: “We’ve got a good week to prepare ourselves for Maidstone. We enjoyed the win at Braintree, but after having Sunday off, we’ve been focused on kicking on.

“We want to gain more points at the weekend and go into Christmas with some good results behind us.”

Agustien signed for Barrow on a short-term deal last month, with the former Swansea and Brighton man’s debut falling on what was AFC’s heaviest loss of the season so far, the 3-0 home reverse against Eastleigh.

It was their sixth defeat in a row at that point – a run characterised by the Bluebirds gifting goals to their opponents.

However, they have managed change their fortunes off the back of three consecutive clean sheets, with the new-look back three being fielded by manager Ian Evatt making his side a tougher nut to crack.

Agustien said: “That was the first thing that the gaffer wanted to change. Obviously, after the first game, he had a good opportunity to change it.

“There’s a very good block in the back three and they’re doing a great job at the minute, dealing with all the long balls, the crosses and everything.

“But it starts with the whole team and you can see how the strikers are working their socks off, and the midfielders.

“I’m looking at the stats as well and I don’t even run that much, but I’m passing about 10-11km, so you can see the will to work hard for each other.”