Manager Ian Evatt felt Barrow AFC were the team that looked most likely to grab a winner during their 0-0 draw against his old club Chesterfield.

The Bluebirds were slow to hit their stride at the Proact Stadium, particularly in the first half-hour, but after bringing on John Rooney and Jack Hindle in the second half, they were the ones making the clearer chances.

Jacob Blyth was denied by a great block and Dan Jones sent a free header wide, but just when it looked as though AFC were going to push on, they lost wing-back Lee Molyneux to a red card.

Overall, this was a more positive performance than the one against Halifax last week, were they did fall flat, in front of what was an excellent 279-strong away following.

Evatt said: “I think first half, we probably weren’t brave enough in possession and I thought we were a bit sloppy.

“It took us a while to get going into the game and we made a slight tactical change, which seemed to help us, and I think in the last ten minutes of the first half, we looked the more likely [to score].

“In the second half, we started much better and much brighter and I thought we looked much the better team in the second half.

“We’ve put together a few lovely passing moves that we should have finished off a bit more clinically, but I think then the sending-off changes things.

“It changes the dynamic of the game and we’ve got to dig in and hang on and I must say the back three were outstanding – Sam Hird in his first start for us was magnificent and Matty Elsdon has done well for us, as did DJ.

“We’ve really dug in for the last ten minutes, but we didn’t really come under much pressure, which was pleasing. The signs were there for me that we are a good side.”