Barrow AFC need to make Holker Street a hard place to visit again, according to captain Josh Granite, who was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Maidstone United.

Four of the Bluebirds’ next five games are on their own patch, where they haven’t won, or even scored, since defeating Sutton United on October 6, although it’s worth pointing out they’ve only played at home three times since.

They are, however, looking to return to the sort of form that saw them win their first three home games of the season, which would help them climb up the National League table.

AFC are currently 12th and their record at Holker Street reflects their mid-table status, as they’ve won and lost five games each, with the most recent home match, against Wrexham, drawn.

Granite said: “We made our ground a difficult place to come at the start of the season – we had a really good run at home and we’ve sort of slacked off it for one reason or another.

“We need to get our home form sorted out and then be solid away from home – the way we have been – and I’m sure that we’ll continue to get some good results.”

Barrow will be favourites to pick up a result, and not just because of their recent upsurge in form, as Maidstone are battling against relegation.

The last time the Bluebirds played at Holker Street, they were up against promotion-chasing Wrexham and were regarded as underdogs, but Granite is insisting the clash against the struggling Stones is just as tough a proposition.

He said: “We speak all week about the games coming up and we know that there’s not a lot in the league.

“We played Wrexham on the Tuesday night then we went to bottom-of-the-league Braintree and the game was just as difficult.

“There’s not a lot between the teams at all, from top to bottom, so I think in every game we’ve got to be concentrated and focused and we’ve got to perform.

“We’ll get beaten if people aren’t on it, so we need to make sure we’re at it and get three points on Saturday.”

Granite is hoping to be able to take part in the match after battling through a toe injury, which has already sidelined him this season, in recent matches.

This has been down to pain-killing injections and, despite the discomfort, he’s been able to help Barrow to three consecutive clean sheets.

“I’ve had a couple of injections to numb it in the last few games and managed to get through them, so I’m not too concerned over it, but I need to get it sorted out now,” Granite said.

“With the injections, it actually doesn’t affect my performance too much.

“It’s just when it wears off that it starts to really hurt and I struggle getting around.”