Martin Allen says Barnet players have lost confidence and belief after falling to a 3-1 home defeat against Forest Green Rovers but felt the first hour was the Bees' best home performance in a while.

Elsewhere, league-leaders Bristol Rovers were beaten 2-1 at home by Eastleigh, meaning a win would have seen the Bees go top with a game in hand.

However, defeat by The Green Army means the promotion picture remains unchanged; Barnet trailing The Gas by two points but with one game in hand.

John Akinde put Barnet ahead by winning and coolly dispatching his tenth penalty of the season. But Dale Bennett lashed in an equaliser before half time and second-half efforts from Jon Parkin and Kurtis Guthrie secured the points.

Reflecting on the defeat, Barnet’s second on the bounce at home, Allen said: “All I care about at the moment is our players. They have lost a bit of confidence and they have lost a bit of self belief and you saw in the first half how well they can play.

“But you have to continue that and get through the whole game. That takes concentration from start to finish. The other results and what happens elsewhere, honestly it is none of my business, I don’t care about what they do; all I care about is making sure out players play better.”

The Bees made a bright start – as had become their trademark earlier in the season – and Allen had been encouraged.

He mused: “I thought we played quite well for about an hour. Then poor defending has cost us two goals from a set play and a counter attack. I think that is one of the best performances we have had here recently. The crowd got behind the players and like I say two errors and costly mistakes.

“The last 20 minutes was difficult to watch.

“Yes [I had discussed the need for a fast start with the players], very much so. I think I said in my programme notes, I urged the supporters to get behind the players and through the week I spoke to the players about putting something on for the supporters. I think everyone who came to watch Barnet today, to a man, would say for 60 minutes we played really well,” Allen concluded.

You can read the match report from the game by clicking here.