BARROW boss Stephen Clemence was quick to take the positives despite his side’s 3-2 defeat to League One Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Trophy.

The Bluebirds had the better chances in the first-half and led through Sam Foley’s finish.

But Ian Evatt enjoyed a happy return to Cumbria as a second-half blitz — with goals from Jay McAtee, Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Collins — saw last year’s champions kick off their bid with victory.

Barnsley loanee Andy Dallas broke his duck for the club with a late consolation. 

And Clemence reflected: “I think we made seven changes from the team that was playing at the weekend.

“We have got quite a number of injuries and I wanted to give people a game who needed a game.

“To do that I had to change the shape. We only had ten to 15 minutes working on that shape on the training ground.

“For the boys to play the way they did against a team who were very close to being in the Championship this season they gave a good account of themselves.

“They did what we asked them to do very, very well.

"We had some really good opportunities in the first half which we maybe should have taken one or two of those.

“They had good possession and were playing through us quite well, but we had better moments.

“We got a goal up and had a really good chance from a free-kick at 1-0 which we don’t take and them they started to get on top of us.

“You could really see the quality of Bolton. They thoroughly deserved to beat us, but the boys gave a good account of themselves.

“The attitude of the boys, the commitment and the desire they have got is second to none.

“When they go 3-1 down, you can go on and lose four or five there if you’re not careful. But they stuck at it, they stuck together and managed to work their way back into the game.”

And Clemence reserved special praise for Scottish striker Dallas, who marked his first start for the club with a goal.

He added: “I was pleased Andy scored his first goal for the club. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a moment there at the end but we move on.

“I thought Andy done really well. We used him as a split striker and I thought he got in on a number of occasions in the first half.

“When he got a chance in the second half he took it. That was a positive.

“There were plenty of positives to come out of the game against a difficult opponent.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t hang in there or take it to penalties, I think it goes to penalties if you get a draw in this comp, but it is what it is.”

The Bluebirds are back in league action on Saturday when they host Swindon at Holker Street.