Game like pulling teeth - Bayliss

Jason Walker scored The Bluebirds' third goal against Gateshead

Barrow joint-manager Dave Bayliss has described his team's Setanta Shield win over Gateshead on Tuesday as "like pulling teeth" to watch.

The Bluebirds needed two extra-time goals to win their third-round tie 3-1 at Holker Street.

"It was just very lethargic. It was such a dour game," Bayliss told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"Overall the performance was poor but the lads know that. It was all about the result."

On-loan striker Richard Brodie had given Barrow a 41st-minute lead before Lee Novak equalised just before the interval with neither side able to make a breakthrough in the second half.

Extra-time goals from Paul Tait and Jason Walker sealed a laboured win for the Bluebirds against their Blue Square North opponents.

"It was the last thing we needed before a big game on a Saturday," Bayliss said.

"But it could have been worse. We unjustly won it by three goals to one and that's the only good thing to come out of the game - the scoreline."

The Bluebirds face a long trip south to Eastbourne this weekend for their FA Cup first round tie.

"The lads have got a few days off now," Bayliss said.

"It's a massive game. [We've] won again and we keep rolling on without playing particularly brilliant.

"We know it's going to be a really tough game and we know that we'll have to play a lot better to get anything out of the game."

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The Barrow players and staff will travel down on Friday morning and train at Brighton and Hove Albion's training ground ahead of Saturday's cup tie.

"We keep moaning every week about being part-time," he said.

"We've been getting down to the hotels at 11 o'clock at night and that's no preparation so we'll try and do things properly like a League club."