We spoke to Archie Davies, following our Carabao Cup defeat to Championship side Stoke City.
He began with his general thoughts on the game, saying: “I think obviously it's a disappointing result but definitely a lot of encouraging signs.
"I think going forward we looked good, we looked a threat and I think it was just a case of them taking maybe the one or two chances they had in comparison to us where, you know, I think we hit the post. I think there was one or two sort of half-chances, even from myself. I think there was a lot of encouraging signs, just fine details to be smoothed out.”
Despite defeat, it was an encouraging performance against a good side, similar to last Saturday's opening day clash with Gillingham.
“I think obviously Saturday was just a sort of freak result. I think we had a lot of the better side of the play and definitely some chances that could have been taken but I think a lot of the encouraging signs are there, we are creating chances and there are, you know, definitely a lot of chances that we could take.
"I think whether it's the final ball or the final finish, if we get that right then I'm sure that we’ll hit the ground running from there."
The Blues went in at half-time at 0-0, we asked what the message from the gaffer was, Archie responded: “Just to keep going. I think the work ethic in the first-half from everyone was good.
“It was obviously disappointing in the second-half to concede so early on but the reaction from conceding I thought was decent, and then sort of the unlucky second goal, I think Harry made a good save and it's just sort of found its way in.
"Two sort of, I wouldn't say lapses in concentration but two big moments they've taken that maybe we didn't at the other end.”
Stoke City youngster Freddie Anderson opened the scoring on 48 minutes - another goal in which United have conceded at the start of the second-half.
"I think that is something that will have to be ironed out. I'm not sure what it is but I felt good going into the second-half. I thought we could just carry it on as we left off.
“We had a sort of half-chance, I think, early on in the second-half and then, yeah, for them to go up the other end and get a free-kick and score off it was disappointing, but it's like I said, just a lot of good signs. I don't think there's room to dwell on it. We've got a good chance on Saturday to now make things right.”
Assessing his personal performance, Davies stated: "I'm never going to stand there and say I was perfect.
"I think there's still a lot of things that I can be doing better, whether it's the final ball delivery or maybe taking my chances a bit better.
"I think it's been a steady start. I think there's still more to come for me but I'm looking forward to the season as it progresses.”
Arriving from Dundalk, Archie hasn’t had much exposure in recent years to the busy EFL schedule, which quite often operates with both weekend and midweek matches on a regular basis.
“It's a sort of different schedule over where I've been playing.
“There's been a couple sort of Friday, Monday, but it's a different ball game. The intensity over here is definitely a lot higher. It's something that I've sort of had to remember.
“I wouldn't say get used to, just sort of had to remember from early on in my career playing in the league.
"I'm definitely enjoying it. I think I felt quite good but obviously I've played a lot of football this year so it's all about sort of managing me even though I do want to stay on playing 90s, but yeah, as long as I'm injury-free then I'll be happy.”
Speaking on his personal targets this term, he added: "I think just goal contributions in general.
“It's definitely a part of my game, maybe scoring goals that I've not done too regularly in the past.
"I think getting balls in the box and getting assists will be a key target and then if I can get one or two goals then happy days.”
On Tuesday night, there was over 4,000 supporters in attendance at Brunton Park, helping to create a top atmosphere and that will be improved tenfold as we take on Barrow this weekend on home soil.
"It was a good atmosphere and now I'm really looking forward to what the atmosphere will be like on Saturday now.
"I think obviously football is a results game and we're desperate to get our first win on the board on Saturday now and I think performances have been good so hopefully we just translate that into wins now going forward.”
"Winning just breeds confidence and if we get that first win, hopefully momentum will shift and we'll go on a little bit of a run and make the fans a little bit happier”
Barrow have started their season well. Winning their season opener, and defeating Port Vale in the Carabao Cup. Archie spoke on their part in Saturday’s contest, saying: “I think first and foremost we'll worry about ourselves, not too much about them.
“I think if we carry on the same sort of trajectory, barring the results, I think positive performance-wise, it's just up that five or ten percent and I'm sure that will translate into wins.
“It’ll be like any derby should and would be: fierce, competitive, physical, fast and we'll have to match that and then ultimately just bring our quality to the table, which I believe that we have.
"Just try and get on top of them and win the game, simple as that.”
