BARROW boss Stephen Clemence stressed his side have plenty of room for improvement after they crashed out of the EFL Trophy following a 3-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town.

Clemence made seven changes for the trip to Highbury, where Kian Harratt’s first-half double and Pele Smith’s first Fleetwood goal did the damage.

The former Gills’ boss shuffled the pack as he tried his best to protect important personnel ahead of the weekend’s league game against Morecambe. 

But he was left less than impressed with the performance on the night from his players.

“At the end of the day I’m the head coach of a football club and I don’t like being beaten 3-0,” insisted Clemence. “I can’t accept that and have to take responsibility.

“I felt we were a bit off it. There was plenty that wasn’t good enough in that game.

“There’s plenty we can still improve on. That’s not just this game, but where we are in the league as well.

“We need to get better in the final third of the pitch and start creating more chances.”

Despite giving a number of squad players a go, Clemence was adamant he could not use the shake up as an excuse as the Bluebirds went down with a whimper.

He added: “Some of the lads have needed a game, some of the lads that have been playing probably didn’t need this game.

“I couldn’t rotate it enough as I would have liked, that’s just where we’re at at the minute.

“I have to give credit to Fleetwood. I thought they were good at times.

“I’m not going to use the changes as an excuse, they made a lot of changes as well. Every time you go onto the football pitch you have to perform.

“I’ve been that player myself where I haven’t been in the team as much as I would like and there have been a lot of changes and sometimes it doesn’t click for whatever reason that is.

“There were a few on the pitch who looked like they needed the game.”

Ged Garner shook off the niggle which saw him miss last weekend’s victory against Cheltenham Town.

But there was another injury worry as striker Dom Telford limped off late in the second half after all five substitutes had been made.

And Clemence said: “Ged’s back involved which is good news…but I’m hoping nothing’s gone wrong with Dom Telford there at the end. 

“We’ve obviously had to play the last ten minutes with ten men.

“I’m hoping that’s nothing in his hamstring, but he will be assessed now in the next couple of days.

“Connor Mahoney was here with us. He has been back on the grass the last few days. 

“Don’t everybody get excited, he won’t be back in the next week or so, but he’s heading in the right direction.”

Barrow are back in action on Saturday against basement boys Morecambe, who are yet to pick up a league win this season.