Bayliss admits Barrow's part-time status makes things difficult

Barrow joint-boss Dave Bayliss has insisted he is happy with their league position despite a poor run of form in the Blue Square Premier.

The Bluebirds' 2-1 defeat at Northwich on Tuesday means they have now won just one of their last seven games to drop down to 14th in the table.

"It's not all doom and gloom, there is still a long way to go," Bayliss told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"I would have taken this position at the start of the season."

The Northwich defeat was Barrow's third loss in a row but Bayliss felt it was a game his side should have won.

"It should have been over by half-time," he said.

It's hard being part-time and only seeing the lads two times a week but we will have a chat with the lads and try and get things right for Ebbsfleet Barrow joint-manager Dave Bayliss

"We didn't convert our chances, we saw our lads heads drop when it went 1-1 and yet again another mistake has cost us the game.

"It's nothing to do with luck. It's to do with poor finishing at one end and poor defending at the other," he added.

Barrow host Ebbsfleet United at Holker Street on Saturday with Bayliss confident his side can record their first win in four games.

"We have to make sure that we get everyone together and feeling confident again.

"We have to get back to basics on the pitch and I'm confident we will do that. A win on Saturday and this bad run of form will be forgotten.

"It's hard being part-time and only seeing the lads two times a week but we will have a chat with the lads and try and get things right for Ebbsfleet."

On-loan Leeds United goalkeeper Alan Martin is set to keep his place in the starting 11 after making his debut at Northwich.

The Scottish Under-21 international replaced Tim Deasy who picked up a fractured finger last month.

"I thought he looked assured, his handling was good and his kicking was excellent," Bayliss said.

"He didn't have much time to get to know the other players so I was delighted with him."