Charlie MacDonald admitted that Barnet had endured a tough afternoon at Sincil Bank on Sunday, as the Bees were beaten 4-1 by Lincoln City.
Speaking after the game, the captain reflected on a difficult day where nothing had gone right for his side:
“They took their chances and we didn’t take ours – it is probably as simple as that really. I’ve had a header from a corner that has just gone wide where I’ve got to do better and another well-worked corner where it’s bouncing around and I’ve got a flick away but not got enough on it.
“They punished us with their finishing – it is a great strike from the lad from the edge of the box for the second goal.
“We responded and we’ve had a few chances in the first half which we didn’t really capitalise on. Just before we came in at half time Luisma has had that great chance which has been blocked on the line. You score that and go in at half-time at 2-1 and you have got a hell of a chance.”
MacDonald revealed that despite being two down at the break the players still believed that they could get back into the game, but after making a triple substitution at half-time their plans were curtailed by a hamstring injury to Elliott Johnson reducing them to ten men:
“We have got a good spirit in the changing room and still felt at half-time that we could go out there and get back in the game.
“We were two down against Dover and clawed that back so we knew in there that we had the players and the character to try and come back, but losing Els that quick into the second half gave us even more of a mountain to climb.
“The gaffer felt that he wanted to inject a little bit more pace into the side and brought the two wide boys on but losing Elliott like that and going down to ten, and then conceding more or less straight afterwards meant that we had to shut up shop a little bit and keep our pride in check and keep the score respectable.”
The captain also had a special words for the fans, before backing his team to bounce straight back with their next game away to Grimsby due to take place in twelve days time:
“I must say the fans were fantastic today. They stayed and clapped us at the end and knew that we gave it a right good go. Credit to them, they have been fantastic for us.
“We’ve got ten points out of a possible fifteen over Christmas. Obviously we wanted more than that and to carry on our unbeaten run because since Macclesfield at home we have been brilliant.
“It has been a disappointing afternoon but we can’t dwell on this. We have been on a great run and now it is time to dust ourselves down and get our rest in before Grimsby away.
“We have always bounced back from disappointment so far this season and I would back every one of them to do it again.
“It is a bit of a deflated changing room now but we have got a week now where we can rest our legs and get ready for the business end of the season.”
