Martin Allen felt Barnet were the side more likely to win Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Leyton Orient at The Hive.
Noteworthy chances were in short supply for both sides, though Luke Gambin and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro were thwarted by O’s keeper Alex Cisak either side of half time.
Those were two of the game’s best chances and it was Barnet who looked the most likely to find a winner in a keenly-contested London derby.
Speaking afterwards, Allen said: “We have had a long week. We played extremely well at Portsmouth and ran out of legs. Losing 5-1 hits and hurts.
“On Tuesday we played very well against Morecambe and were dominant. To concede late on to a counterattack and only draw after playing so well was a big disappointment for the players.
“We freshened it up and brought some new players with fresh legs into the team today.
“It has been a testing and challenging week for the players. All credit to them for coming back so well and being the only team who looked like going on to win in the second half.”
Allen continued: “Leyton Orient started very well and with a new manager that was bound to happen.
“As the game grew we got stronger. After the first 20 minutes we settled down and did quite well up to half time.
“In the second half we were the dominant team but I don’t think we created too much.
“The only thing we wanted at half time was to keep a clean sheet because they have got dangerous forwards. We had to make sure we kept our concentration and did not give them any opportunities.”
The draw means Barnet have only lost two of their first ten league games this term. The challenge now for Allen and his players is to turn draws into wins.
“There are going to be days in this ten-month competition where it isn’t great but the important thing on those days is you still get something,” Allen explained. “We didn’t play great today but we got a good point.
“I never get frustrated. I always see the positives in our players and try to improve what we are doing.
“The players work extremely hard here and are a pleasure to work with. We have had some good performances and not got anything. We have had some other performances where we have fully deserved to win games.
“But they will keep going, keep their spirit, attitude and self-belief. We do need to improve but I had said that from day one. At this moment in time we are doing OK but there is room for improvement.”
