Barnet captain Charlie MacDonald said the Bees believed they could come from two goals down to salvage something at Lincoln City on Sunday, but Elliott Johnson's injury was the turning point.

The Bees found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to strikes from Ben Tomlinson and Alan Power, prompting head coach Martin Allen to make all three available changes at half time.

However the decision backfired, when after nine second-half minutes, left-back Johnson had to be withdrawn after suffering a hamstring problem.

And the Imps took advantage to score twice more through Jon Nolan and Conner Robinson before Luke Gambin netted a late consolation.

Reflecting on the defeat at Sincil Bank, a bullish MacDonald said: "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 Athletic 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."

Asked what the difference between the two sides was, in a game where neither struggled to carve out goal-scoring opportunities, the striker replied: "They took their chances and we did not take ours – it is probably as simple as that really.

"I had a header from a corner that has just gone wide where I have got to do better and another well-worked corner where it’s bouncing around and I have 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 had a few chances in the first half which we did not 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."

And with a weekend without a fixture, the Bees are afforded the opportunity to rest and recuperate before travelling to Grimsby Town for a crucial promotion clash on Saturday, January 17.

Assessing the festive period as a whole, MacDonald mused: "We have got ten points out of a possible 15 over Christmas. Obviously we wanted more than that and to carry on our unbeaten run because since Macclesfield Town 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 Town 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."

You can read Martin Allen's thoughts on defeat by clicking here.