Skipper Michael Nelson admitted Barnet got exactly what they deserved on Saturday as Exeter City left The Hive 4-1 winners in EFL League Two.
It had all begun so well for the Bees with John Akinde nodding home a Ryan Watson corner after 11 minutes to give Martin Allen’s men the ideal start.
However, Jake Taylor cracked home a stunning first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area minutes before half time to send the sides in level at the break.
Goals from Lee Holmes and David Wheeler early in the second half gave the Grecians a 3-1 lead before striker Reuben Reid tucked away a late penalty to compound the Bees’ woes.
“We got exactly what we deserved in all honesty,” said Nelson. “We felt hard done by, maybe, to go in 1-1 at half time but you 1-1 is the same as 0-0.
“At 3-1 down I don’t think we could say we were hard done by – we got exactly what we deserved.”
Nelson continued: “It was not good enough. We made a good start to the game but the goal we conceded just before half time was a sickener. It was a great strike and there wasn’t a great deal we could do about it.
“But the way we played in the first half we should have come in at half time buoyant and knowing we could start the second half the way we started the first and we didn’t do that.
“It was the complete opposite to the last four or five games where we have started slowly and got stronger. Today we started well and didn’t back it up.”
Barnet travel to mid-table Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday before visiting bottom-of-the-league Newport County in a re-arranged fixture next Tuesday.
Nelson says no-one can be certain of their place in the side for those games – himself included.
"A few people are probably looking over their shoulders now and wondering if they have done enough to stay in the side," he said.
“Whether I wear the armband or not, the type of person I am if someone needs telling I will tell them. It’s just the way I am – I don’t like being part of a team that gets turned over 4-1 as easily as we did.
“And that includes myself. I will be the first one to look in the mirror and see if I have done enough and if I haven’t done enough I will take it on the chin, work hard and make sure I do better.”
