“WE’RE all up for the cup,” that was the message of Barrow AFC’s assistant head coach Robbie Stockdale ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Port Vale.

The Valiants are the visitors to Holker Street this evening (7.45pm kick-off) and will present a tough test having been plying their trade in League One last term.

Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Stockdale said: “I think Port Vale will be one of the favourites in our division this year.

“They have recruited really well in the summer.

“They’ve got a very experienced and good manager, with staff around him, so yeah, a big challenge for us.

“I think it is a challenge we need to relish. We went toe to toe on Saturday with a team I expect to be near the top of the table as well and came out on top, and hopefully we can do that again.

“If we just show a really good version of ourselves that gives us the best chance to win.”

Stockdale says the Bluebirds won’t be easing off to prioritise the league over the cup, and they are very much looking to get a result.

“It builds confidence the more football games you can win,” he added. “The players really enjoy that, we enjoy that, and the crowd enjoys that.

“So that’s obviously the aim. Everybody goes into every match with the objective to win, so the cup is no different.

“Obviously priority wise other clubs might say different, but not for us, we will be going all out to try to progress to the next round.”

Barrow boss Stephen Clemence may decide to make changes to the side that beat Crewe Alexandra 1-0 in League Two at the weekend.

But Stockdale doesn’t think that should mean a lowering of expectations.

He said: “The lads looked pretty good on the training pitch. Obviously, with us having won the game on Saturday everyone feels good.

“We are fortunate that we have good options available to come in if that’s what we decide to do.

“But whatever team we pick we will be looking to win the match.

“In my time as a player, and as a manager at another club we managed to get some really big games, and that’s the aim for us as well.

“So, whoever plays (tonight) will be expected to put on a good performance to start with, and against a very strong team in Port Vale, we expect to give them a really good game, and hopefully win the match, but obviously that’s what they will be thinking as well.”

Stockdale said there were pleasing aspects of the win over Crewe, but pointed out that the Bluebirds are still very much a work in progress.

He said: “I thought it was a very gutsy and determined performance.

“There were passages of play that we were really pleased with against a good team – a team that were in the play-off final last year.

“It was a good challenge for us against a team who like to dominate the ball.

“We had to get our defensive structure right, and we did that for the most part, could’ve been better at times.

“We reviewed the game with the players (on Monday morning). What we are trying to do is a little bit of a change from what the team have been used to.

“That’s just how we want to go about our work, our business, and that will take time.

“Only getting results affords you time in football, so we are very mindful that we want to be winning football games, and to try to change the mentality and how we go about things.

“Hopefully over the next few games you see us improving all aspects of that.”