Barnet boss Dean Brennan vented further frustrations after his side failed to convert their chances as a second-half brace from Ollie Clarke saw Swindon Town edge the Bees 2-1 at the Hive.
Brennan has been visibly irritated in recent weeks by his team’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, despite a run of six League Two matches unbeaten.
Adam Senior’s 20th-minute strike gave Barnet the lead, but numerous first-half opportunities went begging as Clarke struck twice early into the second period to claim all three points for Ian Holloway’s side.
Speaking to Barnet TV post-match, a dejected Brennan said: “There was a huge moment in the game in the first half where we had two glorious chances to make it 2-0, and we don’t do it. We hit the inside of the post, which was a great volley from Nnamdi [Ofoborh], and then [Mark] Shelton has the most glorious chance to make it 2-0.
“Like Saturday [0-0 draw with Cheltenham], when you’re on top, you have to score goals, and we haven’t done that enough this season. To be fair to Swindon, they stayed in the game. They scored a goal, which was terrible defending from us, but full credit to them.
“If I’m being honest, the quality they [Swindon] have at the top end of the pitch has won them the game.
“The attacking quality and what we’ve lacked this season, to be where we want to be and we dream to be, is at the top end of the pitch, and we don’t have that at this moment in time.”
The Bees generated several promising openings to extend their lead after Senior’s strike but passed up the chance to put themselves in a strong position heading into the second half, with Swindon seeking triggers to counter.
“It was a fantastic start, but we never built on that start, and we had opportunities to do that, and that’s what’s cost us,” said Brennan.
“2-0 is a much different scoreline. They’ll have to throw their caution to the wind, and they’ll have to take more gambles, more risks. But we never managed to get 2-0 up. We had other scenarios where [Idris] Kanu got in great positions on turnovers where we pressed them really well.
“We had two unbelievable opportunities to slip in Kabi [Tshimanga], neither of which were executed. The idea was right, but we didn’t execute them. We have to hurt them in those turnover situations, and it was the same in the second half.”
After going in 1-0 up at the break, Brennan gave an honest assessment of why his team failed to take anything from the match, citing heavy summer investment into the playing squad as the club's next step in the pursuit of their ultimate goal of moving up through the leagues.
“It’s why we’re a mid-table team, and I know what we have to do at this football club. The question is, ‘Can we do it this summer? ’. We’ll keep going, and we’ll keep striving. We’re not giving up on anything yet, as there are still 14 games to play.
“There’s a lot of football to be played, and there’ll be a lot of twists and turns.”
Barnet travel to Colchester United on Saturday [3pm] as they look to get their League Two season back on track following a run of just one win from their last five outings.
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