Barnet Football Club

BARNET FOOTBALL CLUB

Jamie Stephens: “The results will come”

Having been forced to take a watching brief while getting over a groin problem, Bees keeper Jamie Stephens knows his teammates’ performances haven’t always been rewarded sufficiently in the points stakes.

And it was no different at The Hive on Tuesday evening as Barnet were pegged back late in the second half by a Morecambe side who had offered next to nothing, only to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Stephens, making just his second EFL League Two start of the campaign after suffering a pre-season setback, insists Barnet are on the right tracks after nine games.

"We deserved more from the game," Stephens said after Cole Stockton secured a point for the Shrimps. "We were excellent throughout and although we started off a little slowly we built our way into the game.

"We limited their chances, made good chances and 2-2 does not reflect how well we played.

"We are putting in the performances and the results will come. Morecambe have had a good start and played some good football. If we keep putting in performances like that things will click.

"We showed great bouncebackability from Saturday where, again, it was a good performance but the scoreline did not reflect it.

"They had a couple of opportunities and you have to ride your luck with those. But we had opportunities too and their goalkeeper made a couple of saves. It could have gone either way and it was a good one for the fans."

Stephens has been recovering from a groin injury known as Gilmore’s groin. The Bees’ number started in place of Swansea City loanee Josh Vickers who has impressed during his enforced absence.

"It’s great to be back," he said. "I have kept working hard and doing what I can. Having Josh here has been great as well because we push each other.

"At the end of the day what is best for the team matters. I am happy to support him and he is happy to support me. I will keep trying to do the right things and pushing on from last season."

Another new face in the goalkeeping ranks has been Carl Muggleton. The former Leicester City and Celtic keeper has been reunited with head coach Martin Allen; the pair having worked together at Gillingham and Notts County previously.

And Stephens has enjoyed training with Muggleton who joined the Bees after Graham Stack joined Indian outfit Kerala Blasters during the summer.

"Graham was great and is doing great out in India," said Stephens. "Carl also has great experience and did well with Northampton Town last season, especially working with their number one Adam Smith.

"It’s good to work with him and there is good banter within the goalkeeper’s union. We’ve got Kai McKenzie-Lyle who is progressing well and has got his international call-up for Guyana so we’re really happy for him.

"Carl has helped me a lot with certain parts of my game and built my fitness up – which was the main issue originally. I needed to get myself fully fit and I feel like I am now.

"I was playing with the injury at the end of last season. It needed an operation but we got it sorted in the summer. I got myself back and I was training but I had to build my fitness up and now I feel like I am fully there."