Martin Allen returned to one of his former sides, Portsmouth, at the weekend as Barnet’s return to the Football League continued and another defeat was also suffered as a tough start to life back in League 2 saw the Bees dropped into the bottom two.
Allen’s taken plenty of positives, even in a three-one defeat, with him telling the Official Website he felt Barnet played well and offered Paul Cook’s side more than a match on Saturday.
Playing at Fratton Park was another ‘massive step up’ for Barnet on Saturday but Allen feels it’ll play an important part in the moves forward the Bees are looking to make with the praise dished out.
‘I thought we played very well from start to finish.
‘It’s a great place for our players to come and play – after playing in the Conference last year, it’s good to come to a ground with support like this.
‘It’s a massive step up for all of us. I thought the players did our club proud and did themselves proud.’
He added that, even as last as injury-time before a breakaway third goal secured the points for Pompey, he felt Barnet could equalise with 10-men and ‘every Portsmouth supporter will say that Barnet played well.’
With the referee’s assistant putting up his flag for offside, and then taking it down again, Allen was less than impressed the second goal was allowed to stand though.
‘The second goal – how far offside that was I don’t quite know. The linesman did put his flag up and everyone stopped, as you do when there’s an offside.
‘Then he put it down again and they waved play-on. So we’ve been hit hard by that one.’
The problems is and Allen, who will know as well as anyone, should also know you ‘play to the whistle’ with this something you’re taught from a very early age so should ‘everyone have stopped!’
Is the Bees boss concerned by the lack of points on the board at the moment? Not at all! Allen feels it’s just a matter of time before they come.
‘It was perhaps disappointing not to get anything from the game, but I think the overall performance from our players was spot on.
‘We’ll do what we always do – go back in to train, get our work done and prepare for the next game.
‘The points will come, no doubt about that.’
Share this article
Related Articles
From a Pompey viewpoint, your boys did well & gave your small away support something to cheer for their efforts. Good luck with your campaign back in the football league.