Edgar Davids was beaming with pride after watching Barnet secure a comfortable 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town.
Mark Byrne and Luke Gambin got the goals in the last ever floodlit match at Underhill to ensure the suspended head-coach and over 1000 Bees left with a smile.
Speaking post-match the Dutchman stated the importance of bouncing back from successive defeats before hailing the backbone of the team.
“After the two away losses it is always good to bounce back and especially when it is at home.
“They tried to put us under pressure but we got away from that because we were tactically better positioned than in our last two games.
“The lads performed very well and they stepped up. I am very happy that the side showed a strong backbone.”
He continued by expressing his pride after his side comfortably beat a team he called ‘one of the best in the division’ pre-match.
“Everybody is on the same page and I am really proud with how the team performed against a top side.
“We had three players that were sick but the guys that came in did well. I saw the old Barnet that fought for every ball and that played tactically and positionally well.”
Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United all picked up three points on Tuesday but Davids insists Barnet need to win regardless of what their relegation rivals do.
“We have to just concentrate on our part and then at the end we will look at the other teams.
“If the other side’s hadn’t won, we still needed to get the points in. So even though the other teams won nothing really changed for us.”
Davids also had high praise for Luke Gambin, who scored the Bees second on Tuesday, and Elliot Johnson who has been a revelation in his breakthrough season.
“Luke did well and I hope that he can take that to the next game against Cheltenham.
“But you can’t expect the same level of performance week in week out from the younger players. It is very hard for the younger players but I think that Elliot (Johnson) is the exception to the rule.”
Jake Hyde, Elliot Johnson and Ross Jenkins all missed out due to illness but Davids is hoping they will return against Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
“I hope they have a speedy recovery and that they can play a part in another tough match against a top side at the weekend.
“It is going to be hard and a difficult game but we are used to that now.”
The Bees have lost to many of the teams around them and Davids admits the Bees’ poor performances against the teams at the bottom have resulted in their current predicament.
“I hope we pick up points from the teams around us. If you lose points against the teams around you then that can cost you dearly.
“We have had some hiccups and have helped keep other teams alive. Some teams have taken six points off us which has helped them.”
He added: “A relegation battle is the same as a promotion battle. It is the same rule and that is you have to win every game.
“If you slip up you get punished. That is the same in a relegation battle. It helps build character for the team.”
