Strongest group I have ever had - Barnet boss Brennan

Barnet boss Dean Brennan says the strength in depth in his squad was underlined by their 2-1 win over Accrington on Saturday – and an ultra-competitive 11-a-side game in training in the build-up.

Brennan says his players “could have sulked” after conceding an injury-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw at Chesterfield last week, but, instead, those who had not been featuring took their chance to impress during the week.

“At Chesterfield, we come away feeling aggrieved that we didn’t win the game. We definitely should have won it by two clear goals,” Brennan told BBC Radio London.

“We could have sulked but I watched the players train on Tuesday. We played an 11-a-side game and I said to them ‘you’ve got to play like this is your last game at Barnet’.

“The lads that hadn’t been playing won 5-2 against the first team and it was a fantastic game. I was going to change the team [against Accrington] but I thought we were that good at Chesterfield, I’ll keep the same team.”

But Brennan admitted that he had to make a tactical tweak at half-time after going 1-0 behind, and two Charlie Lakin goals turned it around.

“We had a sacrificial lamb in Nnamdi Ofoborh, who had to come off,” Brennan said. “Then we put Damola [Ajayi] out on the right-hand side, and he gave us width.

“Once you have the ammunition like that and you make the right subs, it’s always a good feeling to win. And Lakin’s been sensational, hasn’t he? What a signing he’s been.

“This is the strongest group of players I’ve ever had.”

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