Caretaker boss Rob Kelly stressed Barrow need to take a leaf out of Harrogate’s book and find their own way of winning games at this level.

The Bluebirds are desperate to maintain their League Two status after ending their 48-year Football League hiatus.

Harrogate were the other side to get promoted last term, for the first time in their history, and have been more successful than Barrow.

Jack Muldoon condemned Kelly’s charges to a painful late defeat at Holker Street.

The battling Bluebirds are two points adrift of safety and have two games in hand over their nearest relegation rivals.

And the survival battle could go down to the penultimate game when Kelly’s side host struggling Southend.

“There are different ways to win football matches and they have done really well but we have to find our own way,” Kelly said.

“I said before the game, I don’t mind it being ugly and horrible when they have got the ball.

“But when we have it, we have got to play our football and I don’t think we did.

“Harrogate are good at what they do and are difficult opponents. I respect that.

“They are direct and ask lots of questions. You know what is coming They have a way of playing, they are good at it and good luck to them.”

Barrow have tried to play fluent football during their first season back in the fourth tier.

But Barrow need to find another way to break teams down when Plan A isn’t working.

“We didn’t play like we can when we had the ball,” Kelly added.

“We looked like we played with a bit of pressure.

“Without the ball we were really competitive but football wise we didn’t play the football I know we are capable of.

“We were not brave enough and needed to get on the ball and not get dragged into the game it ended up becoming.

“We made a couple of changes to try and spark us. On night’s like that, when you are not playing as well as you know you can, you are ruthless and take your 0-0.”

The hosts looked good value for a point and Kelly believes they didn’t get what they deserved.

And he has challenged his charges to show what they are capable of to avoid the dreaded drop back to non-league football.

He said: “There was not much in the game, we should have taken the point and taken it for what it was.

“We ended up chasing the game.”