The squad remains short of specialist defenders and on Saturday the versatile Gareth Edds was pressed into service as a centre-back alongside first-year professional Ash Taylor.
Even so, Barnes drew encouragement from Tranmere’s performance.
He said: “It was pleasing in terms of how we moved the ball when we were in possession and how we got into good positions.
“Overall I was pleased. The more the players can understand the system we are playing, the better.”
Rovers are back in pre-season action tomorrow night, when they take on Southport at Haig Avenue, kick off at 7.45pm.
