BARROW boss Adam Murray was a relieved man after his side secured their spot in the first round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 replay victory at ten-man Gloucester City.
The National League side will head to Gillingham in the first round proper thanks to goals from Thierry Latty Fairweather and Arian Allen.
Kieran Thomas’ sending off for a dangerous challenge on Innes Cameron changed the game.
“We’re glad with the win,” reflected Murray, who felt his Bluebirds were denied a clear goal when Seb Thompson’s effort was adjudged not to have gone over the line.
“Again, there were a lot of bits that I wasn’t happy with. But we’re through to the next round and that’s the most important thing.
“I thought there were some good performances in there. We did what we had to, we got through to the next round and now we can focus on Saturday.
“I thought our supporters were amazing. To come all the way to Gloucester on a Tuesday night for a cup replay.
“We’re so appreciative of what they do for us. They make a difference so we’re pleased we’ve got a win for them to go home with.
“It was another typical FA Cup tie, like Saturday. It was a really tough game. Whatever level you’re at, when you come up against a team that is really organised and really disciplined in that low block it’s really tough.
“We tried to play our way around it or through it on Saturday and we didn’t get the joy we wanted.
“So we planned that for the first hour we were going really direct.
“We wanted to put them under stress at every opportunity and we wanted to make them defend their box.
“We did that really well in the first 25 minutes and had a couple of opportunities that we’ve got to take really.
“We knew the game would open up and then we could put different players on the pitch to get a different outcome.
“Obviously the sending off has a big impact on the game.
“The player who got sent off is not that kind of guy, he’s a really good guy.
“I know he wouldn’t have gone in to harm him, but it’s a really high challenge and it’s a dangerous one so it’s the right decision.
“I think it’s the only one he got right all night. There’s a ball that’s gone over the line there by half a yard which is a goal. How they don’t see that, I don’t know.”
The Bluebirds are now seven games unbeaten in all competitions.
But Murray is not ready to rest on his laurels and will keep pushing his squad until they grow out of their “naive” decision making.
He added: “Not getting beat and winning games is good. But I’m not happy, I want more.
“We just make naive decisions at times. You get away with it now, but that’s what will catch us out as time goes on.
“Everybody tells me I’m intense and I do push hard. But I see the potential in the group.
“I can stand here and say it’s great to be seven unbeaten but it means nothing until you’ve got a medal so I’ll continue to push standards.”