Soccer
Dean Brennan says Barnet’s draw at Chesterfield ‘feels like a defeat’
Frustrated Barnet manager Dean Brennan said “it feels like a defeat” after squandering the lead three times in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Chesterfield.
Barnet’s Tom Knowles and Zac Williams scored in the first half with Chesterfield’s Louie Marsh netting on his full debut for the club. Marsh equalised again in the second half before Kabongo Tshimanga struck late on and then Joel Randall levelled in stoppage time.
Brennan said: “We were dominant in the first half, the opportunities we had, the Charlie Lakin chance, I think we had 13 shots in the first half to their two.
“They scored a fantastic goal, you can’t take that away from them, but they should have been met with a tackle on the edge of the box. These are details that we will look back on.
“Detail is huge for us. Am I happy with nine points in five games? No. The aim was to have 11 after five and today we should have had three points, but we don’t.
“We are absolutely gutted, it feels like a defeat. It was a great game, a great football match, even the Chesterfield fans were clapping us off at the end.
“It was like the Newcastle versus Liverpool match back in the 90s, when football was proper, not like it is now.”
Commenting on Knowles’ performance, Brennan added: “He has had a good start, he’s getting goals, but tactically he has to be better though if he wants to improve. He is a good kid, he works hard and I am happy for him.”
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb felt it was a “mixed bag” when reflecting on the performance.
Webb said: “It’s a bit of a mixed bag looking back on the performance, certainly the entertainment level was high.
“We are disappointed with the three goals we conceded and when I was talking to Dean he said he was disappointed with the three they conceded.
“The way Barnet play, they are always going to have a chance, but then we’ll always have a chance at the other end.
“You have to accept the feeling when the final whistle goes. You have to be happy when you come back from 3-2 to get a point in the last minute.
“I feel the performance against Gillingham was better for larger periods and we certainly would have wanted more than just two points across the last two games.
“The disappointment at Rotherham has caused this reaction, knowing we aren’t going to be beaten and we are going to keep going.
“We spoke over the summer saying it was going to take time to gel, with a younger squad, but we want to pick up points and we got what we deserved today.”
