Barnet joint head coach Ulrich Landvreugd admits Saturday’s defeat against Woking was a wake-up call and believes the Bees face a pivotal month in their bid to secure a place in the Skrill Premier play-offs.

The loss against Woking was the first since Landvreugd and Dick Schreuder were placed in permanent charge of the first team but Barnet remain third in the table.

Eighth-placed Gateshead visit The Hive this Saturday and Landvreugd says it is important his side quickly recover from the weekend loss.

He said: “I was disappointed with the performance more than the result. We didn’t play like we had in the previous five matches which we won.

“Woking were the better team and deserved to win. For us it is a little bit of a wake-up call and I think it is important we react.

“We want to do better against Gateshead. They are a team that are not too far away from us in the table so it is a big game.”

Against Woking, Barnet fell behind in the 24th minute when Josh Payne found the net but they hit back instantaneously as Curtis Weston finished well following a Mark Byrne pass.

Woking retook the lead through a Scott Rendell penalty and it was an advantage they kept until the break.

Barnet pushed forward in search of a second equaliser throughout the second period but, as they committed men forward in the closing stages, Woking grabbed a third goal on the counter thanks to Rendell.

“At this stage of the season, it’s the results that are more important than the performances,” Landvreugd said.

“We wanted a performance like in our previous five games but we didn’t get that. Hopefully we can perform better on Saturday and get the win.”

Barnet face fellow play-off chasing sides Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and Cambridge United in March.

They are games that could be vital for the Bees’ promotion hopes and Landvreugd admits his side are starting a “big month”.

“All games are important but those games are massive for us,” Landvreugd said. “They are not going to be easy but we are third and are the team looking to stay in the play-offs.

“Other teams are looking to get into it and they know that beating us could be important for them, so it is a big month for us.”

The Bees will have to tackle March without top scorer Jake Hyde who is ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury. Hyde picked up the problem during the victory at Forest Green Rovers last week.

It is the second time this season that Hyde faces an extended spell on the sidelines and Landvreugd is disappointed to lose Barnet’s top scorer.

He said: “It’s very frustrating. We have started to create a team and Jake is a part of that side. He had an injury earlier in the season but was back to his best and was scoring goals.

“So it’s disappointing for him and for us because he worked hard to get back to a decent level and was getting better and better.

“But we have good players. Jon Nurse is back after his loan ended and he is an experienced player who is also very good in the dressing room.”