Martin Allen has revealed that he thinks the best team won, after today’s defeat to AFC Wimbledon. 

Discussing his side’s performance, Martin said:

“I thought that Wimbledon were better than us.

“They coped better and dealt with the conditions better.

“I don’t think we really played as well as we can do, and as we have done here.

“This place has been a fantastic home for us, but today – and I don’t say this very often – I thought that they were better than us in far too many areas.

“We’re used to these conditions and we know how to play against the wind and the rain – it’s very difficult to play here when the conditions are like that.

“But I thought that Wimbledon looked stronger, more powerful and had more hunger.

“Like I say, it’s very rare that you can say that about my Barnet team.”

However the Bees manager was full of praise for goal scorer Mat Stevens, saying:

“Mat Stevens has been fantastic for the last three weeks in training with the first team.

“He got a hat trick for the reserves during the week, and I was very close to putting him on last Saturday against Dagenham.

“In training he’s been scoring against the first team players, and he now looks more comfortable in the group.

“He’s walking with his shoulders and head up, and was very close to actually starting today.

“This team played very well against Dagenham, and I thought that they deserved a chance to go out and play.

“But now changes will be made, because we’re better than how we played today.

“Other people will get the chance.

“With our players, they all train hard to get a place in the team.

“If the players in the team don’t play well then the players out of the team – if they have the right attitude – will play.

“That’s the way it is, it’s very competitive.

“It’s ironic that just before Wimbledon scored their second goal, I thought that we had two very good chances down the other end.

“Andy Yiadom forced the keeper into a save, and then Mat Stevens headed it half a yard wide from the corner.

“So it could all have been very different.

“But overall I honestly think that they deserved to win. 

“We’ve been on a good run where we were very solid and difficult to beat.

“But today they had for too many opportunities to score for my liking.”