Fairclough takes no consolation in defeat (From Times Series)

Fairclough takes no consolation in defeat

8:19am Sunday 21st September 2008

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It is back to the drawing board for Barnet manager Paul Fairclough.

He said he could take no consolation in the fact that Bury manager Alan Knill admitted his side were lucky to win 2-1 at Underhill yesterday.

Fairclough was more concerned that his side have now thrown away a lead five times in their nine matches so far this season.

"Have we got a soft under-belly? I must find out if it is something we are doing," he said.

He added: "We played a very good side. We've defended like trojans in the first half, and threw our bodies in front of the ball. We gradually got some kind of foot in the game.

In the second half, we started very brightly and then deservedly took the lead, and we should have consolidated that lead.

"We had opportunities to score. Cliff Akurang had an amazing opportunity, but didn't. Adam Birchall had a wonderful opportunity, but didn't. And then they went down the other end of the pitch and scored."

The second Bury goal soon after finally killed the Bees off.

"The players worked so hard to put this right, but I saw the emotion drain from some of the players when Bury scored. Three or four players were feeling very sorry for themselves.

"It was a disappointing end to what looked like a very good performance."

Fairclough admitted that Nicky Deverdics was not really ready, following injury, but he at least came through the game unscathed. He said it was too much of a risk to also start John O'Flynn. He said he could not afford to have two players not fully match fit on the same pitch.

"It was a question of getting the balance right," he said.

Bury boss Knill said: "This (Underhill) is one of the toughest places to go to. The luck was with us. Barnet should never have lost. They were the better team in the second half."

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