Barrow is described as the 40-mile cul-de-sac, tucked away from the rest of the world up in Cumbria, but Dean Smith navigated his way out with minimal fuss.
Aston Villa made sure there was no panicking at dead ends last night, never succumbing to an upset they craved around these parts at a club that – in its second year in the fourth tier – continues to make up for lost time after decades in the doldrums.
They are still reacclimatising with the Football League and improving on merely surviving is the main priority for Mark Cooper – their fourth manager in 12 months – yet this was an evening to bring the town and its club back into national focus.