Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt felt there was nothing that would have forced club captain Josh Granite off the field during stoppage time of last Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Sutton United.

Given that Granite had only forced his way back into the starting line-up that week, it’s not surprising he was willing to struggle on, up front, with a dislocated shoulder and fractured collarbone after a heavy fall in his own penalty area.

Admittedly, the fact that the Bluebirds were already down to ten men after midfielder Jason Taylor came off with a head injury, with all three subs having been made, may have made his mind up.

Nonetheless, the 27-year-old went back on against the advice of AFC’s medical staff and still went up to challenge for headers in his unfamiliar position, despite only having one good arm.

Evatt said: “We wanted him to come off because we didn’t want him to do anymore damage, but you couldn’t get him off the pitch - you couldn’t drag him off.

“The players want to win that much and to see him running around with a dislocated shoulder was amazing.

“I’m proud of him, but I’m proud of them all because of their commitment and their desire. If ever there was a team to really stand for what Barrow stands for as a town, that’s the team right there.

“The support was magnificent - 1,800 in Holker Street is a fantastic effort - and I hope they went home as proud as I was because I was struggling for words, I was that amazed with what I saw.”

Evatt has previously been happy for Barrow to slide in under the radar, but winning nine out of their last ten league games and being fourth in the National League, just two points off the top, means that’s no longer possible.

But rather than just being praised for their style of football, the Bluebirds are now being looked upon by other teams in the division as promotion contenders, with the trip to seventh-placed Notts County on November 16 having increased significance attached to it.

Evatt said: “They should be taking notice of us because we’re a good team. We’ve shown we can win in different ways and the best teams that compete at the top of divisions do that.

“Saturday was the first time where things really went against us and we weren’t really at the races and the opposition were playing really well that we’ve managed to win a game.

“That’s what makes it my best win as a manager. I’m all for, as you know, fancy, attractive and attacking football, but sometimes you just need to roll your sleeves up and dig in.”