Barrow went down 2-0 at home to Blackpool in their first EFL Trophy game of the season.
The Bluebirds had crashed 5-0 to the Seasiders in a pre-season clash and were expecting a tough challenge from a very good League One side.
The visitors took the lead just before the break through Sonny Carey before late on Kylian Kouassi scored his first goal for the Seasiders to seal the win.
Fellow debutant Karamoko Dembele had the first chance of the game when he latched onto a loose ball down the left, but his attempted shot was sliced wide of the near post.
Blackpool had the better of the exchanges until Courtney Duffus had the hosts’ first shot of the game just past the half hour mark as they ventured forward seriously for the first time.
Owen Dale was put through by Dembele but Barrow’s defence did well to block the subsequent shot on goal.
Dembele was lively and almost latched onto a ball over the top from Callum Connolly 10 minutes from the break as the visitors stepped up the pressure.
The breakthrough came two minutes from half-time following a quick break by the Seasiders. Dembele and Matty Virtue combined well before releasing Dale who did well to feed Carey and his composed finish separated the two sides at the break.
Barrow grew into the second-half with Ged Garner going close on the hour mark as he glanced an effort wide of the mark after doing well to get across his man at the near post.
Blackpool substitute Matthew Pennington came close minutes after coming off when he struck at the near post from a Tashan Oakley-Boothe setup, but Josh Lillis was equal to the strike.
At the other end Richard O’Donnell made an outstanding point blank save from Duffus in the 72nd minute when the striker found space in the Pool box.
Barrow had upped their game and went close seconds later when Garner cracked an effort off the crossbar from the edge of the area.
But Blackpool wrapped up the three points late on when substitute Albie Morgan was found free down the right and played a perfect ball across to Kouassi who composed himself before placing it into the bottom corner.
